Month: December 2025

Hyperlinked Symposium: #hyperlib Explore & Act in 3-2-1

I had heard incredible feedback about the INFO 287: The Hyperlinked Library class but I did not predict how transformative this course would be for me. As a student at the beginning of the course I felt that the theories and flexible concepts within it made my individual path unknown and unpredictable. However, I found that diving headlong into the material inevitably gave me access to insights and ideas that I had not encountered despite working in libraries for five years.

The nature of being hyperlinked in library communities cuts to the core of human experiences. It invites patience and chaos, but also collaboration and the courage to ‘follow the spark’ and support brilliance when it appears.

Thank you to Dr. Michael Stephens for providing this unique learning environment and to my classmates for sharing their sparks and engaging with mine.

Inspiration Report: Digital Care Work: Exploring Trends from Europe

Digital Care Work has become an unforgettable foundation to my studies this semester as a library professional most interested in technological aspects of librarianship. Methods to decrease barriers to access fascinate me and I recognize that this is a trend that has continued throughout my time at SJSU. In previous courses I’ve explored these themes through learning to teach information literacy, fostering community for niche social groups, inclusive cataloging, ease of use through information architecture, and more. I aspire to continue exploring Digital Care Work through other lenses and hope you find value in it as well.

 

Reflection Blog #5: Infinite Learning for Library Folk

My personal journey as a library professional has been steeped in infinite learning through informal engagement but also frequent professional learning experiences (PLEs). I realized quite early on that I would have to be a sponge and allow myself to be open to all potential learning opportunities if I were to be a facilitator of the best possible experiences for my patrons. Every single day has been a chance to learn from my colleagues and patrons alike. As library professionals we are not merely serving as liaisons to information, but builders of a structure of interconnectedness that invites everyone to learn and collaborate (Stephens, 2016).

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Reflection Blog #4: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🗣️🆘🙏✅🙌

The value of storytelling has never been more powerful as libraries have shifted toward becoming community hubs and away from the notion of being book warehouses. Libraries and library staff might arrange an environment for a community to form by providing programming events, but sharing stories with each other is a necessary step for a sense of community to grow and thrive. I previously explored storytelling via a traveling exhibit where veterans shared their stories through tattoos. This inspired me to ask my colleagues about transformative experiences that patrons have shared with them. In my experience, these heart-warming stories tend to accumulate quickly for public library workers, but I’ve selected a few short anecdotes to share anonymously.

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Reflection Blog #3: UDL as a Bandage for Anti-DEI Policies

As I worked through the material for modules eight and nine in our course content, I kept feeling drawn back toward the Teaching & Learning EDUCAUSE Horizon Report from 2025. Two sections kept gnawing at me: inclusive learning environments and federal policy shifts blocking inclusive innovations. The key takeaway from the EDUCAUSE (2025) report states that inclusive teaching strategies “boost[s] student retention, success, and engagement” (p. 8). I don’t believe that this claim comes as a surprise to anyone in the library world who has worked directly with marginalized patrons.

Then this question loomed in my mind: the facts are apparent and the news is dire, so what can we do about it, especially if we are scared?

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