“To be human is to be imperfect” ~ David Weinberger.

The Internet is a wild and tangled web of connections. To create thriving hyperlinked libraries, we must thrive within these connections, not tame them. Out of the different themes presented so far, this stands out to me the most in these first few modules. For many Type A individuals like myself, this messiness and perceived chaos can seem incredibly distressing initially. Yet, the more I learn, the more I see that embracing the mess is actually freeing. 

Messiness as a Strength

As an aspiring information professional, I have taken many classes on correctly organizing, categorizing, and protecting information. All of these skills are important to hold; however, with this can come perfectionism. This perfectionism can be a hindrance when it comes to dealing with something as messy and imperfect as the internet. As David Weinberger perfectly stated, “You can only have a conversation if you’re not afraid to be wrong” (2001).  This goes against the nature of a perfectionist. To be okay with being imperfect and human is something we all need to embrace in order to have the much-needed conversations and connections. 

In order to move away from trying to find perfection in libraries, we must adapt and take on new values. Steve Denning explains that this is a shift from efficiency to the value of continuous improvement. This shift leaves room for libraries to adapt, experiment, and continue to improve with the changing world. Within the Hyperlink Library Model, this messiness, openness, and unpredictability are essential and must be embraced. It is this that allows curiosity, creativity, and free thinking to flourish.

Bridging the Digital Gap in Rural Libraries 

This theme reminds me of the first library I worked at. It was a small town library that, while having social media and a website, was not as connected to the internet as it could’ve been. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it forced the library to expand its online presence in order to reach its patrons. This opened a whole new world for the library and made the staff see what else is possible. Their podcast, SPL Book Talks, was my favorite addition to the library. Here they discussed different titles and brought on local authors to discuss different topics. I have noticed a slow decrease in their online presence. While still posting some of social media platforms such as facebook and instagram, they have stopped posting on both Youtube and TikTok. Which is unfortunate because of the risk of losing important connections that were made, especially with young adult and teen patrons. Not only can a hyperlinked library help build connections with patrons, it can also build connections with libraries around the globe. It is my own experience that leaves me wondering, how often is this true for small-town libraries? How can we help them to sustain these online connections in a similar way to bigger library systems?  Larger systems can often have more funding and more staffing to keep up with the growing technological advances. Smaller systems do not have these privileges and can often fall behind in these changes. 

Knowledge Is Power

Dr. Michael Stephens wrote in his book The Heart of Librarianship that the best reason he has heard for being a librarian was “I want to change people’s lives” (2016). This statement sat with me and made me ponder over my own desires. Why do I want to be in this line of work? Many know the old saying “knowledge is power,” and this power has been used over people throughout history. Public libraries give this power back to the community. I want to be a part of this mission. Now, with the internet, the way we give this power back to the people has to change. 

If someone has access to the internet, they now have a whole world of information at their fingertips. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by this big, wide web. To help patrons navigate this, we can be guides. Weinberger speaks to the idea that a “useful expert” is someone who can show you where to find information, not someone who knows everything. That has always been what libraries were for, but now, instead of helping patrons find physical materials, we need to help patrons navigate the complexity that is the internet. 

Conclusion

The internet challenges librarians to embrace the messiness and accept imperfection. This allows us to focus on continuous improvement rather than getting things perfect. This will allow librarians to make deeper connections with patrons and other information professionals. It is important that all libraries are looking towards these advances and that we are not losing smaller communities in this shift. I have seen the connections the internet can make and am excited to see more libraries move to embrace these changes.

Reference

Denning, S. (2015, May 1). Do we need libraries?. Forbes.

Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship: Advancing the humanist agenda. American Library Association.

Weinberger, D. (2001). “The hyperlinked organization” in The Cluetrain Manifesto, p. 86 -123