That’s really special. Thank you so much for sharing. My husband is autistic/ADHD and yes, even for adults the whole experience can be just too much; that room at the back to go have the meltdown and then come back is a GAME CHANGER.

@christines The sensory friendly Nutcracker ballet is a wonderful find. This was interesting to find out about. It is amazing how things are changing for those who need alternative options.

@christines thank you so much for sharing this story. Kylie Carlson’s presentation at Library 2.0 and at Next Library in 2019 was so moving. Yours was a s well.

I’ve never been the type of person to attend those kinds of events, but I remember when I went to church there was a small quiet area for people with children separated by a glass window. I never realized that can be a safe space for people who can’t handle the big crowds or louder parts of the church. They can still listen in with speakers, but I always assumed it was just where the loud kids went. When I was younger I didn’t understand some people could’ve needed that kind of space.

I love this post! My children are also neurodivergent and it is lovely to see how the needle of inclusivity is moving.

Roya,
I loved this! You always seem to bring the reader back to the big picture of this shared human experience and the need for understanding and compassion. Thank you for the book recommendation, “Far from the Tree.” When I have more time to do reading outside of the program, I will take a look. I am also going to pass it on to a parent at work who shares his struggles with me regarding helping his transgender child with learning challenges.
Lovely post. I always make sure to stop and read what you have added to the discussion.

@royaflin It is amazing how making a connection to someone who is going through something difficult can make it easier. Knowing that you’re not alone and someone has a similar story to yours can be lifew changing.

I can especially empathize when it comes to our children. My son has had multiple medical issues in his life, and when I was first learning about them, I always felt better meeting someone who went through a similar experience. I now have been the parent to pass along my (and my son’s) story to others. I love when I can help someone else with what I learned during my struggles. If I can make things a little easier for someone else, that makes everything worth wild!

-Laurel

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I think most can empathize with or identify with such struggles with Family members or friends.

@royaflin Thnak you for such an honest and thoughtful exploration of your story as a aprent and how it all relates to the big picture. The nbook you suggested sounds amazing and so useful for understanding others’ stories.

@laurele Isn’t it amazing how life’s burdens become lighter when shared? I love that you are passing your story and wisdom to other parents to help them feel less isolated and more empowered to tackle their challenges. Thank you for your comments!

Your reflection beautifully captures the transformative power of storytelling and vulnerability. Your journey through challenging times, finding support in your book group and on the soccer field, highlights the profound impact of genuine human connection. Integrating insights from authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Andrew Solomon, and Brené Brown, you underscore the importance of embracing diversity and vulnerability for true connection. Initiatives like the human library and partnerships with StoryCorps demonstrate the pivotal role libraries play in fostering dialogue and community engagement. Your mention of narrative inquiry in libraries highlights the value of amplifying individual stories to better understand community needs and adapt programming. Overall, your account eloquently illustrates how storytelling nurtures empathy, transcends boundaries, and builds bridges across differences. Thank you for sharing your journey and insights with such honesty and depth.

Quarry – The book sounds amazing. Will add to my reading list. Thanks for these thoughts!

@kauthmeister Oh! My ❤️! Those examples you shared resonated deeply for many reasons – especially the last one. How wonderful to remember such a life changing person from 3rd grade.

@christinew Oh yes – the power of libraries to level the technology playing field is huge. I hope we see more and more learning and experience labs created within library spaces.

Frances – This was so interesting! I appreciate your jumping off point to bring all these “storied” ideas to life.

Hi Roya,
Thanks for your illuminative thoughts on New Horizons for libraries. I really appreciate the way you applied the ACRL’s framework to thinking about ChatGPT. I have been actively avoiding ChatGPT but need to get my head out of the sand and accept that it will be part of our digital lives from now on. Your perspective provides a good entry point for me to focus on. Much appreciated!
–Maggie

@royaflin This is such a thoughtfully presented exploration of the current state of… everything really! This so resonated with me at the end:

We must also recognize that to retain our humanity, we must also provide places for people to connect and form communities in real life. Libraries and librarians are uniquely positioned in our society to advocate for an ethical and critical evaluation of the digital information infrastructure as well as provide the “social infrastructure where people gather, bonds form, and communities are strengthened” (Klinenberg, as quoted in Peet, 2018).

Libraries are in an amazing posoition to offer spaces and programming to help folks make sense of the world. I hope we keep moving toward that goal.

The future of technology evokes both excitement and concern. While advancements hold promise for improving healthcare, education, and addressing global challenges like climate change, there’s a risk of technology dividing us and eroding our humanity. We must adopt a “meta layer of awareness” in our relationship with technology to understand its effects fully. Concerns arise with tools like ChatGPT, which lacks transparency and may reinforce biases. Librarians play a vital role in fostering critical thinking and ethical evaluation of emerging technologies. Additionally, while AI and virtual reality offer opportunities, they can’t replace genuine human connection. Libraries serve as essential community hubs, advocating for both technological literacy and the preservation of human interaction.

Hi Christine. I really enjoyed looking through your innovation report. I love the idea of libraries being a partner in being responsible stewards of our environment. One area that your report made me think about was the ongoing excessive food waste in our country, while so many people are going hungry. I did a quick search and found out that many libraries are indeed involved in addressing food inequity, an area which may be of an interest to you: https://www.governing.com/now/public-libraries-step-up-to-help-as-food-insecurity-rises#:~:text=Almost%20half%20of%20the%2017%2C496,sources%20of%20affordable%20fresh%20food. I love how libraries are stepping up to do such important work in our communities.

Hi Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your ideas about combining restaurants/bars with a library or bookstore. I remember walking past a cozy bar, that had bookshelves filled with books (I wish I remembered where I saw this, but it may have be somewhere in SF). It was the kind of place where you could enjoy reading a book while sipping on a glass of your favorite wine or cocktail. I loved the idea! As far as food goes, I see so much potential for libraries. As a foodie, I would love to see libraries pair cultural celebrations with food from that culture (maybe using food trucks or having existing restaurants provide the food). It would be such a great way to create community.

@kauthmeister Really appreciate the ideas you share regarding culinary literacy and libraries. Our area had similar during the pandemic where people could not wait out the return of many of the restaurants. Your idea about focusing on young people really resonates as well. I think Traverse City library and all the folks working in hospitality here might benefit from this type of a partnership.

Hi Laura,

Very well put! I loved the book “Klara and the Sun”, and I was also reminded of it when I was reading the articles about how children interact with Alexa. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

I haven’t, but I am putting it on my “to-read list”. I love Ishiguro. Thanks for the recommendation!

@lauraw Oh! So nice to be reminded of this regarding visits to physical museums:

“…gains in critical thinking, historical empathy, tolerance and interest in visiting museums again,”

I am in line with McShane – VR field trips certainly have a place but I hope young people have a chance to visit as many museums as they can via school, family, etc. I am also a big advocate for travel in general for opening up minds if possible.

@michael. For some reason, I had a lot of difficulty responding to your comments on Canvas. Thank you and it’s now posted on my blog (I was trying to embed the file, but it was too big, so it ended up as a link to my file).

@royaflin Sorry about the Canvas thing! Let me know if it continues. You can always message here or email me. Thanks for posting this!

Hi Laura,

Hi Laura. Bravo! I loved the idea of fostering better relationships between the homeless and police through the use of games, with the eventual idea to expand to other segments, like social services. While I was looking through your report, I was reminded of observing a policeman on his bike, holding a long conversation with a young homeless person in front of a north beach cafe in SF. I was so struck by the fact that these two people seemed to have an on-going relationship. The policeman was offering mentorship and advice to the young man, something I was not used to seeing in the typical interactions between the police and the homeless. It was truly heartwarming to behold!

Frances – London is truly magical and filled with stories. The libraries are amazing!

Hi Melissa,

I love the idea of having an oral history at the community library! Personal stories can be such a powerful community building tool. I had a similar idea for my innovation road map where I proposed the bringing together of seniors and youth in an intergeneration multimedia storytelling initiative.

@christines you included some amazing photos in this post about various information environments, and what is possible with technology. I’ve always found the hunt library model to be so impressive. The self guided Trail application via a QR code is super cool. QR codes have come a long way.

Hi Christine,

Thank you for your insights on using nature and technology to create positive feelings for the user. Hunt library is such a beautiful space, and I love that nature is an integral part of the library design. I love the idea of solar powered benches to provide access to wi-fi and library resources. Thank you for highlighting these libraries.

@christines Cool video! I can see all the ideas you gathered from the module woven into the media. Love the idea of easy access to tech and OUTLETS!

I love the idea of having the concept of “The Library Cafe.” In my library, we have a teen room,, and it fits like a library cafe too. I just think that having a dedicated space for groups of people is always great to have. As kids get out of school, libraries become a haven for individuals who feel insecure, being safe, or a setting where they are the same.