{"id":26,"date":"2026-07-05T18:38:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T18:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/?p=26"},"modified":"2026-07-05T18:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T18:38:51","slug":"reflection-blogging-2-hyperlinked-environments-and-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/2026\/07\/05\/reflection-blogging-2-hyperlinked-environments-and-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflection Blogging 2: Hyperlinked Environments and Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my previous blog, I touched upon the growing loneliness epidemic among immigrants. In 2023, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, highlighted the serious effects of loneliness and social isolation, as well as the benefits of more connected communities (Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2023). Libraries can help nurture a sense of community and belonging by providing a third space where people can connect and feel at home, all without the pressure to spend money. Emma Wood, Associate Librarian at UMass Law Library, describes a third space as \u201cspace that is separate from home and work where we seek conversation, neutral ground, and comfort in feeling connected\u201d (Wood, n.d.). In many Asian countries, where collectivist values are stronger, there is greater emphasis on fostering human connections. Information professionals in the United States can learn from our colleagues from these cultures to make libraries more deliberately social spaces.<\/p>\n

Modern Japanese libraries are intentionally designed as third spaces (often referred to as \u201cdestination libraries\u201d). These vibrant, community-centered hubs feature experimental and adaptive architecture, shared work areas, technology centers, and even caf\u00e9s that actively invite public engagement. For example, the Ota Library in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, was developed with its growing population in mind, blending the functions of an art museum and a library to foster curiosity and creativity. Citizen feedback was integrated throughout every phase of the planning process to reflect the true needs of the community. The library curates local art, crafts, and historical materials, and its caf\u00e9 offers food and beverages made from local ingredients, demonstrating how thoughtful design and programming can successfully fulfill the third-space mission.<\/p>\n

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Art Museum & Library, Ota<\/p><\/div>\n

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Cafe at Art Museum & Library, Ota<\/p><\/div>\n

On the other hand, Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos in Gifu, Japan serves as a multi-purpose cultural facility that embodies the third-space vision. It houses the Municipal Central Library (\u201ccenter of knowledge\u201d), the Citizens’ Activity Exchange Center (\u201ccenter of community bonds\u201d), and the Multicultural Exchange Plaza and exhibition galleries (\u201ccenter of culture\u201d). Designed as a true \u201cdestination library,\u201d it encourages people of all ages to form connections with each other and with the broader community. Its Community Activity Exchange Center even operates a \u201cForeign Resident Consultation Counter,\u201d offering daily assistance in six languages to support non-Japanese speakers, further strengthening the library\u2019s role as a community connector.<\/p>\n

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‘Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos<\/p><\/div>\n

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Foreign Resident Consultation Counter<\/p><\/div>\n

These examples remind us that reimagining our libraries as intentional third spaces cannot be a second thought, but true inclusivity and connection-building often begin in the planning phase.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art Museum & Library, Ota. (n.d.). Facilities. https:\/\/www.artmuseumlibraryota.jp\/eng\/facilities-eng\/#id03<\/a><\/p>\n

Gifu Media Cosmos. (2026). Home. https:\/\/g-mediacosmos.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Office of the Surgeon General. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General\u2019s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. US Department of Health and Human Services. https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Wood, E. (n.d.). The rise of third place and open access amidst the pandemic. American Library Association Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach Services. https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/diversity\/odlos-blog\/rise-third-place<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my previous blog, I touched upon the growing loneliness epidemic among immigrants. In 2023, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, highlighted the serious effects of loneliness and social isolation, as well as the benefits of more connected … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":853,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/853"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/bravenewhyperlinkedworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}