Now, as in the past, freedom of speech and expression are threatened by politicians playing into many people’s fears, and a free and open library space catered to the diverse and participatory needs of the public is needed to combat the suppression of people’s ideas (Kuhn, 2024; Library Futures, 2025; Stephens, 2025). One way to introduce the library as a free and open space is to be as transparent with the library community as possible, as many are woefully misinformed on the reasoning for the inclusion of various spaces in the library, catered to diverse needs, and the inclusion of various texts (Bolan, 2008; Kuhn, 2024). Another method is for…

Hello everyone! My name is Miguel, and I am excited to participate in this course as part of my LIS studies. I live in San Diego, California, and I am currently working as a substitute librarian for elementary schools in the La Mesa County area. I enjoy answering all students’ questions concerning their learning experience so that they might succeed as students. I chose this course to continue what a previous professor said about staying up-to-date on what is occurring in the library space. I am excited to learn about all the innovative technologies and ways the library space is evolving to keep up with the ever-evolving needs of patrons.…