The story is probably like most others about what drew me to this course. When I was in INFO 200 last year—neck-deep in the late-game coursework for the whole semester and wondering where to even begin tackling The Research Paper—I watched one of Dr Stephens’ lecture videos where he shared about his travels to libraries around the world. He encouraged learners to further explore what other libraries are doing and find inspiration from how they create connections, because at the core of it all, people are the heart of the library. Something about that stuck with me, and in exploring the first few modules here, it was great to revisit those examples and find out why human connection is so important to the library’s structure.

At its core, I’m always drawn to storytelling. The act of sharing stories is innate in all of us, and it provides the foundation for humanity to ensure their lessons and legacies live on. It is adaptable in many forms, and it is something we already know how to do. Storytelling is an equalizer. It does not require that one be more qualified than another to share their story. As long as an audience will listen, a story is allowed to be shared in the world. This is how the experiences and progression of humanity have been, and will continue to be, documented. Because storytelling is universal, humans have a knack for understanding what is shared and how they can find connection in others.

In Stephens (2024)’s lecture, I was drawn to the stories and moments they represent. The “do not disturb” library director and how not to be unapproachable. The reference desks that face the patrons to include them in the inquiry. The bell that rings in the Dokk1 when a baby is born. Moments like these contribute to the idea that human connection is what forms the hyperlink in hyperlinked library—which is interesting to think about in the digital age, where we have become hyperlinked by the world wide web. 

It was described by Denning (2015) that the biggest change caused by computerization has not been the technology itself, but the mindset. Reactions are now faster because of the information we can quickly access, and organizations and services are adapting around that. The author conjures up the image of “slow moving hierarchical bureaucracies” that cannot keep up with the instant ways customers can make their satisfaction or dissatisfaction known (Denning, 2015). Social media has become a place where people fight to gain control of the narrative of any topic in the hot seat. The story that generates the most impact is the one that will be remembered in the end about the issue…if people even remember it by the time another new trending topic takes its place. As reactions become faster, so do attention spans that become shorter. So many voices clamoring for attention, so many stories searching for an audience to listen. How could this not be a pulse to address in a hyperlinked community’s beating heart?

The world is not perfect—and in recent times, I wonder if our collective reactions and interactions are bound to see another shift in the ways it will affect our behavior. I do not wish for a bleaker future, or even a bleaker present. I want to embrace how humanity still strives for connection with one another, and how that can be supported since we can be brought together much sooner through speedier avenues of communication. People form the beating heart of a community, because our nature is to live. The shared recognition of stories and storytelling is proof of that. 

References:

Denning, S. (2015, April 28). Do we need libraries? Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2015/04/28/do-we-need-libraries/ 

Stephens, M. (2024). Module 3: The hyperlinked library model [Video]. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/module-3-the-hyperlinked-library-model/