Hi @acorey! As someone who worked for many years at library service desks, I feel this one deeply. I didn’t know that the thing I was often doing was “surface acting”. It’s just something I had to do when I was feeling too depressed or anxious to interact with people — you put it aside and act like everything is fine because you don’t want to be greeting people with that kind of energy. It does take a lot out of you! I did find, like you noted, that sharing my struggles with my colleagues was a great help.

@terribeth, it is nice that you also feel that sharing your struggles with co-workers helps reduce the stress! I think it also builds comraderie and relationships with your co-workers! On the subject of surface acting on your job, I also found that I have done this, when awsering a call, on the phone. I get into what I call my “customer service voice”, no matter what I am feeling.

Hi Carlee,

Great post, thank you for sharing! You brought up such good points regarding cultural competence and humility. There is no way we can directly relate all the various life experiences of everyone who steps into the library, but the least we can do is be equipped with the tools and be ready to help anyone with an open mind and heart!

@Michael Great Article! I love how it talks about how space itself is a service for users. It really is! Honestly, when I was in high school, I mainly went to my local library to cool down from the 100-degree weather. I didn’t go for the books or the computers (although checking my Myspace was a bonus); I just wanted to sit in a cool and safe place for a while. Space is a luxury and I’m glad libraries can provide that

I’m from Boston and the BPL was a huge part of my teen years.
I’m thankful for the librarians there and how they just let me and my weird friends exist.

A great article! And it plays nicely into my final paper for Collection Development!

@arthurkolat I so enjoyed the video. You brought all of the facets of the library as classroom to life. What wonderful feedback you received as well. And I must tell you I enjoyed the color of your crocs. 😀

Hi Kiana,
Thanks for your post. I thought your mention about sensory rooms being beneficial for folks with brain injuries or dementia in addition to neurodivergent folks was interesting. It always strikes me how accessibility for one group can turn out to benefit many others outside that group too. Thanks for your insight!

Kiana,

These sensory spaces look so cool, and they look different from other ones I’ve seen! I particularly like the use of light in a couple that you shared. They look stimulating and relaxing at the same time.

Kiana – I so appreciate all these amazing examples!

Kiana,
These were wonderful examples. I find myself wanting to use the gel pads!

The system for which I work partners with a local kitten adoption nonprofit. The nonprofit brings a bunch of kittens into our large meeting room and people can come in and find a kitty to adopt. One family mention come to our event specifically as the shelters are too overwhelming for their neurodivergent child with all the animals and the hard surfaces making it a very loud space. They met with success and adopted a kitty that day! <3

Sara

HI Kiana,
Thank you for sharing this! I enjoyed viewing the pictures of different sensory spaces and you make great points for including these spaces in academic libraries.

-Lilia

Living / learning roof looks awesome! Do they allow dogs up there?

@michael Thank you for sharing – what an amazing library story! I’m so that they were able to rebuild, and make the space even better. I really like the auditorium, it’s so big – would be perfect for some movie or documentary screenings! Like @arthurkolat , I also think that the learning roof is so inventive and fun, and probably gets more folks out into the fresh air.

Michelle – I so appreciate your thought on cultural humility. We actually just updated the lecture and info 200 from cultural competence to cultural humility because I think it is that important of a concept. Thanks for this post.

Thank you for sharing some of your own story here, Michelle! It sounds like libraries have had a profound impact on you; it also sounds like your life has helped you become a great librarian.

Hi Denise,
Thanks for sharing. I like your inclusion of vertical farming as a new technology, especially in a school or library. I’ve seen small versions, but it’s interesting to imagine what a large scale version could look like. And certainly beneficial in growing urban areas! Also love the picture of the kitty. 🙂

I really needed to read your post today- so thank you. You had mentioned the feeling of how time has stopped, and that describes how I’ve been feeling for these past two days.

I work in a high school and while officially I’m supposed to keep politics out of the workplace, I had to have several conversations with students yesterday who felt let down by their families, communities, and nation.

I overheard a discussion around a group of freshman (full disclosure- one of them is my child) and they were trying to figure out what they could do. I asked them if they were trying to start a revolution, and several of them yelled “YES!” While I was teasing, I was given hope. These kids are 14 years old, but they are already aware that they have to do something in this world to help.

So yes. Collaborate. Connect to the right organizations and make sure that we take a stand for what is right.

Louis – I so appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness about this post. The last week plus has been difficult in many ways. I feel like I’m grieving your last paragraph resonates and I hope and I will always have hope that this will be the way forward.

Congrats to those finishing up! To other fellow students who are, like me, still working on their degree, hang in there and enjoy the journey! I’m not graduating until Fall ’25, but I can’t wait!

I enrolled for the Spring 2025 e-portfolio class earlier this week! It’s the last class I will be taking and then I am done with my MLIS!

Congrats to everyone finishing up!! I’m in the same boat as those who said Fall 2025–see you all then. 😀

@acorey This is all so interesting! I agree that information professionals can play a role in helping parents decide how they approach technology and their children. I see both sides: too much screen time cannot be the best, but also we want to raise conscientious and thoughtful digital citizens.

@michael I totally agree about that balance! I think it must be a very challenging part of parenting in the modern world.

Hi Terri,
What a cool idea! I had heard of citizen scientists before, but not citizen archivists! It really is so important to have our stories documented, especially the stories that belong to marginalized groups. Thanks for sharing!

Catherine,

This is a really great idea! I’ve noticed several cities and universities implementing programs such as this. Around my own town we have bike services for the city and also the campus, but like you mentioned, there is an accessibility issue – because they charge $30 for a rental. It would be more beneficial if it were more accessible for all and citizens could just simply “check out” a bike and return it.

The listening lab is very cool! Something about music changes the vibe in the air! Music related: UCSF has a dedicated music room available for people to practice. I went on a tour there once and my mind was blown to see a music practice space. https://calendars.library.ucsf.edu/space/51326

Lilia,

I really like this idea and think it would serve this library very well! As a first gen student myself, when I was getting my bachelors degree at Ole Miss, I had an optional class that helped me explore the library in more detail and it really helped me in school. It helped me meet the librarians, learn where to go for what services, and what all was included in my student experience. After doing this immersive class, I used the library all the time – and now I even work there!

@catladylilia I LOVE this! I use virtual study YouTube sessions all the time, and I would love to get something like this started at the college library where I work. It would even help *me*! ; ) Also, this presentation is gorgeous.

P.,

I work part time as an intern at an academic library in the area – and I was pretty surprised how easy it was just to talk to them and get in there for experience. I am not even a student at the school, but they have allowed me to have a position that is very helpful to my career and has taught me a lot. At the university I work for, it seems that the librarians are always motivated and there is always room to grow or take on new positions.

I will say the reason I went into school for my MLIS was to work in public libraries, but I actually went to offer volunteer services at my local public library and was turned down. They did not have any positions open, so I offered to help however I can to gain experience, but they claimed that they legally were not able to, and I wonder why that is? Why would they turn down free help, especially from someone learning in the MLIS field?

You know I would totally advocate for part-time staff having access to continuing types of learning. Even if it’s 30 minutes of watching a video, etc. I think that could be very powerful and useful. I hope that change comes to your library.

Hi Kiana,

Great post, thanks for sharing! I really like your point regarding how face-to-face settings are instrumental to strengthening connections between people. Sometimes I wonder when I see hate comments online…would these people say the same in real life? Personal accountability is key, as you said.

Kiana – I am so glad the human library concept resonated with you. Also, I have followed Peter the YouTuber for a long time and some of his videos were so moving and challenging to watch an interesting. I kind of fell out of watching him recently and I need to get back to. It might be really helpful for my frame of mind.