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.

@pfulumirani I absolutely love the title of this post and all you had to say about stories! ❤️ Last paragraph = 🔥

This is such a powerful reflection and testimony! The difference between Indonesia’s actual vs. needed librarians is staggering, you’re right. Also, I agree with Dr. Stephens on your last paragraph.

Wow @pfulumirani,
Thank you for sharing your experience! I had no idea Indonesia is in such dire need of librarians. Your story about making your own book collection or mini library is such a powerful reminder of how important equitable access to the library can be, especially for those not yet in school. I completely agree that visiting the library should never be a privilege, and like you, I hope that one day children everywhere around the globe will have the access and opportunity to explore the stories and knowledge libraries can provide.

@pfulumirani such a great thought about AI through the lens of information literacy. It also struck me as interesting to read about your previous academic experience. I wonder what journalism classes look like in 2024 with ChatGPT so prevalent fascinating to think about.

Hi @pfulumirani,

I totally agree with your sentiment that resisting new technology is a truly futile effort for libraries. Rather, their time and energy would be better spent on adapting their services to actually stay relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape. And one aspect to that equation that you mentioned is incorporating and making tools like AI accessible to the public to actually assist patrons in gaining media and information literacy, which is crucial to have in a digital world becoming more misinformed and harder to trust with each passing day.

Your local library adopting the curbside pickup model, like many businesses did during those trying times, beautifully demonstrates how that initial adaptation can eventually pave the way for newer, improved programs that might not have been possible without taking those first steps.

This is great! With so many college students in the area, this could get a lot of interest. I also really like how you mentioned that gearing programming around seasonal events like tax time would be nice.

Hi Praditya,
I really like you’re idea and feel like this is such an important topic to understand for people of all ages! As someone who didn’t know how to do laundry or cook until I started college, this format would be beneficial for pacing tasks, learning with others, and not feeling overwhelmed with “adulting.” Thanks of your post!

Hi Praditya, what a great idea! This would have been so helpful to me when I was younger and had to navigate the world of “adults” without my parents. I’m sure there are so many folks who would benefit from a program like this!

This is a great idea! In our library, our teen services librarian does this type of programming and she calls out to “Emerging Adults”. She works with ages 18-28.

Thanks for exploring this area of the class. The newer articles you linked to illustrate how web must perservere within our communities.

I really enjoyed reading your post and you have some really thought-provoking ideas. I have also thought about this a lot – how the children’s programs get packed while the adult programs usually do not have many in attendance. I think this is in large part due to the library needing to reach out more, online and in person – making these services more well-known. This also coincides with the recent post by Professor Stephens, about the library that expanded their hours to reach more patrons. It is possible that many adult patrons simply do not have the time to make the programming during the library’s set hours due to work, school, and children. Maybe this could be combatted by bringing a mobile library to certain areas where these programs would actually be used?

This:

“Community engagement doesn’t always have to mean working harder—it’s about working smarter. ”

Is 100%! With that idea in mind and an eye on asking the right questions, I would argue that libraries might find the perfect mix for programming and service to meet the needs and wants of the community.