Reflection 1- Libraries as places of welcoming

Over the past weeks of this semester, I have gained a greater understanding of the meaning behind a library being “hyperlinked.” One common theme I have found throughout the course lectures and readings is the idea of inclusivity through library programming and design. This week’s readings about hyperlinked communities, specifically highlighted inclusivity in information grounds as encouraged through innovation and connection. Authors Dorte Skot-Hansen, Jessica Klinker, and Lauren Warner each discuss different ways libraries embrace inclusivity through innovation and connection.

Dorte Skot-Hansen, for example, introduces the concept of the 4-Space Model. This model makes libraries an interactive experience by including four spaces with different focuses: The Inspiration Space, The Learning Space, The Meeting Space, and The Performative Space (Skot-Hansen, 2017). This theory was created in response to budget cuts and questions regarding public libraries’ impacts in Denmark and is intended to give researchers, librarians, and patrons the place to work and communicate together (Skot-Hansen, 2017). The four spaces will influence the design of the library and how it is used, making it a “placemaker, a meeting place in the urban space, with special architectural qualities and which serves as a magnet for citizens, across cultural divides” (Skot-Hansen, 2017).

Lauren Warner discusses a similar idea when analyzing the service delivery strategies in Canadian public libraries. Warner explains how population increases in Canada have inspired public libraries to adapt the current infrastructure (Warner, 2024). These adjustments include off-campus library kiosks and self-service hold lockers (Warner, 2024). These advancements help improve the reach of library services and make the materials more accessible than they are when they are exclusively only in established library branches. The kiosks and lockers help create community through innovation by placing the library resources in areas that are frequented by more people across a Canadian city.

While innovation is important to create inclusivity, embracing the traditional aspects of libraries also has a positive impact. Jessica Klinker explains this in her article that outlines the community-building powers of books. She explains that books help readers better understand those around them by exposing them to diverse voices and perspectives (Klinker, 2020). So, she advocates for diverse materials to be provided through libraries in multiple modalities, such as print, e-books, audiobooks, and large types, to expose all readers to experiences and perspectives other than their own (Klinker, 2020).

Overall, libraries must embrace innovation in terms of services and resources to maintain inclusivity. By constantly adapting to the world around them, libraries can be central spaces for community building and connection.

References

Klinker, J. (2020). The Healing Power of Books. https://blog.gale.com/the-healing-power-of-books/

Skot-Hansen, D. (2017) 4 Spaces Model from Univ Copenhagen. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4-Spaces-Model-from-Univ-Copoenhagen.pdf

Warner, L. (2024). Revolutionizing Public Libraries: Three Ways that Alternative Service Delivery Strategies Can Meet the Challenges of a Booming Population. https://medium.com/@lauracwarner/revolutionizing-public-libraries-ff7fed3d12c5