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!

@crlhayd I’ve never been a huge fan of VR tech, only because it’s made me dizzy and feel kind of a sense of vertigo at times – but when I saw the HoloLens 2, I was like “I wanna try that!” I just think it’s a great work tool, and really great for brainstorming – as it can really make ideas come to life.

@crlhayd The Flipped Classroom has a special place in my heart! It was so apprentices to me in my days of face to face teaching that the time could be better spent on group learning/proijects instead of listening to lectures. I think this is why I was so drawn to SJSU in 2011!

Loved reading your Innovation Strategy & Roadmap. When I visit the Library myself, I am always seeking for the most quiet and private place to relax and study so this would be the perfect space for me to unwind. I work at Disneyland and this also reminds me of the new quiet Cast Member spaces they are creating backstage for the cast to relax and get away from the noise that I am very appreciative of.

@crlhayd I love this service! In my current position, I’m working more often with analyzing things through a DEI lens and I’ve come to notice that I’m not doing enough reflection on disability needs. It’s so easy to look over but as I’m working alongside disabled coworkers, it’s been very eye opening to learn from them. Your roadmap is a great example of simples steps that libraries can take to be more inclusive.

@crlhayd This was so interesting — especially having returned from Scotland with memories of six different museums I visited. There were so many amazing experiences provoked by art or by interaction with objects, or a display. I so appreciate all the ways we can extend our visits and participate! )I came very close to becoming a “friend” of the National Gallery of Scotland – I loved it so much!)

Hi @crlhayd – Loved your post. I am very drawn to spaces like this that blur the boundary between library and museum. I enjoyed your discussion of how the space made your own knowledge of MLK junior somehow more real– that is such a powerful experience and difficult to describe.

@crlhayd It is so incredible that NYPL has these exhibits on display for everyone to see free of charge. Many do not get to experience the magic and education of museums due to the cost of museums or not knowing how to access the information for financial help to get in. This is very inspiring and I’m sure sparks a lot of patrons’ creativity.

Hi Carlee,
Your experience at the NYPL sounds incredible! I wish I had visited the library when I had the chance, especially the Polonsky Exhibition, which your description made it sound so enticing! I can’t imagine how amazing and impactful it must have been to see historic artifacts like the MLK photograph and the original Winnie the Pooh up close like that.

I also appreciate how you connected it to the idea of hyperlinked environments and the way museums, even within libraries, can offer such immersive, intricate experiences for both viewers on and off line. Thanks for sharing this—definitely adding it to my list for when I visit New York next time!

@crlhayd thank you for detailing all of your practical experiences in the library setting and in your previous work environments. I so appreciate your thoughts on outreach and I agree with you that it is incredibly important in our field. You are getting super valuable experience as you move through the program.

Hi Carlee!

Your experience with children really shines through. I can just tell you put a lot of love and effort in engaging with the community and creating thoughtful programs. It’s so wonderful to see how you adapted based on user feedback, allowing for more participatory service, as well the inclusion of both accessibility and inclusivity shows a genuine commitment to the community. The point you made about using social media and technology to connect is huge. Being able to connect with them in other ways aside from in-person can enhance the library experience and even the participation of patrons. This really does serve as a reminder that user feedback and participation can help build the community and the library itself for the community. Thanks for sharing!