Hyperlinked School Library Community
During the exploration of the Hyperlinked Communities Modules, I was most moved by Ciara Eastell’s speech titled How libraries change lives. In her TEDx speech, she conveys to her audience how important libraries are to their communities. She explains that not only do libraries help young children develop literacy skills through library programming and print collections that improve their performance in school and ultimately lead to better jobs, but they also change people’s lives by providing resources and programs that support social mobility. Eastell explains that libraries are the very definition of Heteropia. Meaning that libraries are a magical place of transformation, possibility, and inclusivity accessible to anyone, anywhere, to help with positive self-growth on any path an individual is taking. Heterotopia is otherwise known as the library (TEDx Talks, 2019).
@electricnow Welcome to the Library .. where magic is real and every artifact has a story. Begin the adventure with TheLibrarians, streaming free on #ElectricNOW #NoahWyle #rebeccaromijn #christiankane #lindybooth #magic #adventureseries #fantasytv #binge #freestreaming
The dream job I have always wanted. This is a hyperlinked library in a multidimensional time and space (electricNOW, 2025).
Eastell also stresses the importance of keeping libraries relevant by adapting. Libraries must engage with their communities and anticipate their needs by providing programs that help all patrons. Libraries need to keep up to date with new and emerging technologies and provide spaces for tinkering, collaboration, and exploration. By continually adapting and creating programs that support their communities, libraries will remain essential to our societies well into the future (TEDx Talks, 2019).
In his Hyperlinked Communities lecture, Dr Stephens explains the many ways libraries can create a hyperlinked community. Some of the most motivating examples in his lecture were the young girl who 3D printed the Titanic for her school project, stop motion animation for kids, Australian teenagers drawing art on new library furniture, resident artists in the library, Rock the Box, virtual conversations on what patrons are reading, the Carnegie Mellon collaborative spaces, and my personal favorite example, meditation in the library (Stephens, 2025). The possibilities of creating a hyperlinked community with these amazing spaces and program opportunities are incredibly motivating.
As I think about my role as an Itinerant Teacher Librarian, I have many wonders about how I can create a Hyperlinked Community in my school library. I know that I can accomplish this goal through my STEAM library program. However, in considering the readings in this module, I have to also consider what the most important needs of the teachers, students, and parents are in each of the school libraries I serve. In the article titled A Beautiful Obsession, the author, Sally Pewhairangi, quotes David R. Lankes as he describes the library. Lankes explains that “Our buildings matter. Our services matter. But they don’t matter on their own, and we do not determine their value – that is a job for the community. It is only in the advancement of those we serve that we find our impact” (Pewhairangi, 2014). This quote helps me reflect on what the most important needs of my school library patrons are and how I can best serve them. Is it enough to provide our students with 1-to-1 devices and think that is truly closing the digital divide? How do I balance the needs of three very different school communities? I truly hope that with these amazing hyperlinked library examples and feedback from staff, students, and teachers, I can create an amazing, magical heteropian hyperlinked library in collaboration with my school library communities.
References
ElectricNow. (2025, May 12). Welcome to the library .. where magic is real and every artifact has a story. Begin the adventures with #TheLibrarians [Video] TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@electricnow/video/7503709994639035691?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
NC State University Libraries. (n.d.). My#HuntLibrary. https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/projects/my-huntlibrary
Pewhairangi, S. (2014, May). A beautiful obsession. Weve. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/WEVE_May_2014.pdf
Stephens, M. (2025). Beyond buzzwords: Ten invitations to build library connections and community (2025 ed.) [PDF]. The Hyperlinked Library Insights GPT.
Stephens, M. (2025). Hyperlinked Library Master Lectures 2025 > Hyperlinked Communities [Panopto video]. San Jose State University School of Information.
TEDx Talks. (2019, June). How libraries change lives | Ciara Eastell |TEDxExeter [Video].
YouTube. https://youtu.be/Tvt-lHZBUwU?si=J9Tqm5hNiLf2XGfl
West, J. (2014). 21st century digital divide. Librarian.net. https://www.librarian.net/talks/rlc14/
Williams, A. & Muller, C. (2021). Libraries are bridging the digital divide. Internet Society.
https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/03/libraries-are-bridging-the-digital-divide/
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2 Comments
Michael Stephens
@chicanasteamlibrarian I really appreciate your inspiring response to the resources in this module. I’m so glad you found ideas and examples that may inform your own practice.
Cara Huttinger
Maria,
I really loved this post! As your colleague, I kept nodding enthusiastically as I read your post. It is such a challenge having multiple sites and differing needs for each school community. I really loved Ciara Eastell’s Ted Talk as well. It was inspiring. Thank you for such a thoughtful post.