I think the library is a valuable part of the modern world since you can learn all sorts of new things and you are right it’s a safe place people can learn what they wouldn’t in school. However I don’t believe we should offload so much of our work towards the library, instead we need to push for schools to be a better educational setting too. It shouldn’t always be at risk to lose creative learning environments. Play is an important part of learning as you say, so it needs to remain in schools to a certain degree. I’ve never learned that well if I didn’t have fun, but this comes in many different ways. I just don’t think we should give up on schools having fun.

@jeanna so much goodness here, but I’m gonna focus in on the last little bit about library services under one roof. My thought would be to expand the library into that storefront and anywhere else. The library might find some space such as the farmers market or the community center or anything in between. This is a good way to think about service and the library’s place in the community.

Jeanna,
I just perused your inspiration report. You did such a great job! Thank you for providing us all with a great example. I appreciated how well thought out your plan was, even down to factoring in liability issues and providing solutions.
I really appreciated this sentiment, “As computers and cell phones
make much of the library’s historical purpose obsolete, we can ensure our
continued relevance by providing opportunities that other organizations cannot.” I think this is exactly what this course is all about–in order for public libraries to survive, they must evolve, adapt, and be linked with the community.
Good job! I enjoyed reading this.
-Emily

Hi, Jeanna! I’m in complete agreement with @emmizo– your report is extremely thorough and engaging both visually and in its content. The Battle Bots link was so cool (I love how reactive the crowd was!) and a great way to illustrate just how fun and creative your proposal could be for library patrons. Excellent work!

@jeanna Oh my! I need to know more about the emoji language the 20 somethings have… I am way out of there loop as a late-50’s something!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the human library. I do believe there is some training involved in the formalized human library programs for the “library books” to be aware of how people might talk to them.

I absolutely loved this journey you took us on through different cozy library-themed bars and actual cozy libraries across the country. I live in Sacramento, so I could investigate the books to see if they are functional or just chosen for aesthetics! I have had the chance to sneak into The Reading Room in New York. I don’t know if I would call it cozy. It was a tad intimidating.
Thanks again!

Hygge!! Love it too. Those pictures just suck you right in. I’ve been to the Library Bar and have heard of the Bourbon and Branch (went to a speakeasy in SF too but it was called The Vault, an old bank)! What a fun and inventive idea for this post. We have a bookstore/restaurant in Santa Cruz called Bad Animal that I was so excited about until I ate there and the waiter was snarky and lame. The book guy was really excited about the reference in the title though…which I can’t remember of course.
Your writing is easy to read and very entertaining!

@jeanna I was super thrilled to learn about all the various permutations of the concept of the library bar. I am in for a nice glass of red anytime I happen upon one of these places. You share some very interesting ideas as well about what this means for libraries and welcoming people into our spaces. Cheers.