In this module on Hyperlinked Communities, I took an interest in the ways different organizations serve their communities across the globe. One such example is the concept of “libraries as nodes in a community network” (Williams, 2021). This prompted me to take a deep dive into the work of Internet Society.
Internet Society’s Zimbabwe chapter can teach us all a thing or two about true connectivity. Hailu describes how Murambinda Works, a Buhera internet cafe launched in 2002, has become a vibrant staple in community connectivity by offering tech literacy resources which transform community members from information consumers to instructors themselves– “Murambinda Works introduced a training on computer literacy aiming at building the capacity of teachers in ICT. The training was given across the entire district of Buhera covering close to 218 primary and secondary schools” (2018).
What are the implications for library service everywhere? As a librarian residing in the United States, I see people become jaded about what’s possible in the arena of service. And I don’t just mean the general public’s perception of the library. Even as LIS professionals, it’s easy to feel trapped by the kind of status quo attitudes maintained by administrative policy. We can easily lose sight of what might be possible for us and for our communities.
Further exacerbating the issue is the gatekeeper mentality which proliferates our field, reinforcing concepts of hierarchy which the hyperlinked library seeks to upend. I keep returning to the same questions. If we see libraries as beacons in darkness, can we then give a torch to our users to carry into the night? It’s true that even my rural local library in central California’s farmland offers tech courses. But what would it be like to empower our patrons? How can library service go beyond the information need and make our patrons nodes of connectivity themselves? I don’t have any cut and dry answers to my own questions, but I do know that such a path for libraries can exist, forged by programs like the Murambinda Works.
References
Hailu, B. (2021, March 25). Murambinda Works Community Engagement Workshop in Buhera: Meeting Challenges with Opportunity – Internet Society. Internet Society. https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2018/12/murambinda-works-community-engagement-workshop/
Williams, A., & Muller, C. (2022, November 29). Libraries are bridging the digital divide – internet society. Internet Society. https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/03/libraries-are-bridging-the-digital-divide/
@bklint That last paragraph resonates! I like your approach…and the idea of a torch into the night!
Thanks @michael!
Hi @bklint,
Your post really resonated with me. I personally understand how easy it is for both patrons and LIS professionals to feel constrained by traditional administrative mindsets. But the potential for libraries to become true hubs for empowerment and connectivity is incredibly vast, as illustrated by your example.
I agree that empowering patrons goes beyond simply meeting their information needs — it’s about giving them the right tools to actively shape their learning and interactions within the community. Programs like Murambinda Works show us what’s possible when we reimagine libraries as collaborative spaces where anyone can become a creator and sharer of knowledge, rather than a mere recipient. It’s exciting to think about all the limitless possibilities and opportunities awaiting future generations of patrons once libraries fully embrace this shift.
@kianapouya yes! I love the way you frame it in terms of recipient vs. creator. I think a lot about information in terms of consumption of content verses generating meaningful content. (Even the term “content” can be difficult to contextualize in our social media world of “content creators,” but I digress.) But in the examples above, users shifting from recipient to active participant is really what drives empowerment.