For this assignment, I want to explore how libraries offer participatory services to members in the form of storytelling and community story sharing. Since their inception, libraries have preserved human-made stories and served as depositories of these stories. Some libraries, including the one where I work, are fortunate enough to have an archive that collects and curates stories of local and state history. However, an interview with our reference librarians reveals that few library members visit the archives. Among whom, most are white seniors searching for their high school yearbooks or students researching for school projects. The librarian also indicated that the archives are underutilized by people of color, largely because their histories are not represented in the artifacts. This makes me wonder: how can our archives become more inclusive and serve all members in our community?
Maurice Marks Center for Local and California History
Dr. Stephens presents the Hyperlinked Library model in his books Wholehearted Librarianship and Heart of Librarianship, arguing that, in this ever-changing socio-technological landscape, modern libraries must use new technologies and offer user-centered services both in person and online. In contrast to the past, when library directors and librarians dictated which services and programs to offer, library users today are seeking ways to participate and build a sense of belonging in their libraries. Across the country, community members are helping shape libraries by providing input on library space use, programming, and collection development. Among the participatory services offered by libraries, storytelling may be the most important one. In “Telling Stories” in Wholehearted Librarianship, Dr. Stephens explores the ideas of keeping, sharing, and making stories, and discusses storytelling initiatives such as that at the Kraemer Family Library at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, The Naked Truth: Connect, Create, Contribute (NT:CCC) initiative from the Mill Valley Public Library, and StoryCorps. These are all examples in which community members actively participate in the programs and connect with each other through stories. Dr. Stephens believes that, through facilitating storytelling with diverse members of the community, “libraries can provide the space and training for people of color, LGBTQ folks, and the disabled to share their stories, many of whom don’t make it into mainstream media” (Stephens, 2019).
Libraries are supporting storytelling in many creative ways. For example, to support their storytelling, The Naked Truth equipped their speakers with the necessary tools and knowledge beforehand and created an online platform in addition to their live events to share the stories with a wider audience. Similarly, DOK, the Delft Library in the Netherlands, facilitates the Living Library, where members can have live conversations with a “Living Book,” a real-life person, to gain new perspectives and challenge prejudice or stigma. The Westmount Public Library in Quebec, Canada, uses an interactive multitouch table where members can view and interact with a collection of more than 40,000 postcards and other artifacts collected from the local community. The collection is made available in both French and English and removes barriers that once prohibited access.
Bibliothèque publique de Westmount Public Library, 2016
As for my library, I have some ideas for improving our services and making our archives more inclusive. I believe it is especially important to encourage participation and collaboration from people of color and other marginalized groups, who often have to work extra hard to be heard. New technologies, such as AI-powered translation apps, can leverage speech-to-text, generative AI, and real-time inference to overcome language barriers and provide English translations at storytelling sessions. Offering both in-person and virtual storytelling sessions also breaks down barriers for those who cannot easily visit the library. Furthermore, we can utilize our equipment at our Memory Lab, and invite members to share their memories with us after digitizing them using our flatbed and book scanners and VHS digitizing tools, to support future storytelling. This can be done on an interactive multitouch table like the one at the Westmount Public Library, or through a photo sharing website such as Flickr and Instagram, if the budget is tight.
Artifacts from the Memory Lab
Community storytelling enriches people’s lives and challenge stereotypes and prejudices through open dialogue. With the San Francisco Bay Area being one of the nation’s most ethnically and culturally diverse regions, it becomes the responsibility of our libraries to not only preserve local history but also foster stronger connections among members through storytelling.
References
Baiocco, L. (2016, June 19). Labor of love: Opening up archival gems for community engagement. Information Today. https://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/may16/Baiocco–Labor-of-Love–Opening-Up-Archival-Gems-for-Community-Engagement.shtml
Bibliothèque publique de Westmount Public Library. (2016). 2016 – La Semaine des bibliothèques publiques – Public Library Week [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bibliowestmount/30325561161/in/album-72157675285586746
DOK. (n.d.). Living Library. Retrieved June 18, 2026, from https://www-dok-info.translate.goog/volwassenen/livinglibrary.html?_x_tr_sl=nl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=nl
Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding hope, inspiration, and balance. American Library Association.
Van de Geer, J. (2015, December 6). Local Stories [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAfw2logFJM&t=9s
