Reflection on Hyperlinked Communities

I want to start this post with a story. Last week, my husband and I rode the trolley for a few stops where we witnessed a beautiful moment: a reunion between two friends/former neighbors/former colleagues. They hadn’t seen each other for 30 years, but they started catching up as if it had only been months. They bonded over grandkids and the loss of loved ones, and they reminisced over times they’d shared. This conversation my husband and I overheard touched us in a way I don’t think we’d experienced before. One of my first thoughts once we left that trolley was: Wow, what a great example of pure human connection and community. That’s what the library should be fostering. 

The good news is that libraries have actively been doing the work of creating opportunities for human connection, even in this world which sometimes feels like it’s trying to keep people apart. This week’s module was rather illuminating in the ways it showed the benefits libraries can provide for the community, and I want to share a few thoughts that stood out to me.

The Library and Its Spaces

One of the most important things libraries provide is space – space to explore, learn new things, try out new skills, and most importantly, connect with others. By creating programming that allows groups to meet regularly for a common interest, community members are more likely to come to the library. Just this past Thursday, a lady who attends the biweekly knitting group personally thanked me, as I was the one sitting at the front desk at the time, for providing the space for the group to meet. She explained that as a hobby knitter, the time she spends with fellow knitters is valuable to her. This comment definitely stuck with me. It may seem like such a simple thing, allowing a group to come regularly use a public space, but to the group members, it is everything, especially because it fights against the “loneliness epidemic,” as described by Tareq Hasan (2022). While the need for social connection was especially prevalent during COVID times, it has not completely diminished today. The truth is: people need each other. Luckily, they can find companionship at the library.

The Library and Its Books

I doubt this will be the last time I will talk about the transforming power of books this semester, so I won’t go into too much detail now. But of course, one of the primary resources libraries provide to their communities is books. They alone can provide comfort, as they did for so many, including myself, during the pandemic. For one thing, they allow us to explore different viewpoints and see ourselves represented within their pages (Klinker, 2020). They can also lead to conversations, as exemplified by community conversations about 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 at the Brooklyn Public Library (Dixon, 2017). 

One of the great things libraries do is ensure that everyone can access books. One of the ways they do that is by offering various formats such as audiobooks, large print, and e-books. Some libraries also try to make physical books more accessible to their communities by using tools such as bookmobiles, so if people live too far from their local library, the library will come to them because they know everyone should be able to have access to the information and resources books contain (Lauersen, 2025). 

The Library and Tech

Another valuable resource libraries provide is technology. In this age where almost everything is online or on an app, libraries act as a bridge to help counteract the digital divide. There are many ways they are doing this. For instance, most libraries provide free Wi-Fi and computer access. Many have also participated in programs offering mobile hotspots and laptops which can be checked out. One of the ideas that stood out to me this week was that libraries could be turned into Wi-Fi transmitters, allowing more people to gain access to the Internet outside of the library building (Williams, 2021). 

Libraries can provide other resources as well, such as tech help classes or one-on-one sessions, which at my library has been especially helpful for frustrated older adults who are being left behind in this digital age. 

These are only a few of the many incredible resources and services that libraries all over the world are providing for their communities. I can only hope that more people come to see how their local library can benefit them.

References

Dixon, J. (2017, October 15). Convening community conversations. Library Journal. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CONVENING_COMMUNITY_CONVERSATI.pdf 

Hasan, T. N. (2022, October 20). ‘Free, non-judgemental, accessible’: How your local library is a sanctuary of health and wellness. SBSBangla. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/bangla/en/article/free-nonjudgmental-and-accessible-how-your-local-library-is-a-sanctuary-of-health-and-wellness/t15blzsi9 

Klinker, J. (2020, July 24). The healing power of books: Using reading to address social and emotional needs. Gale. https://blog.gale.com/the-healing-power-of-books/ 

Lauersen, C. (2025, February 5). The necessary nearness – an ode to bookmobiles. The Library Lab. https://christianlauersen.net/2025/02/05/the-necessary-nearness-and-ode-to-bookmobiles/ 

Williams, A. (2021, March 17). Libraries are bridging the digital divide. Internet Society. https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/03/libraries-are-bridging-the-digital-divide/