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Module 10: The Power of Stories

Stories as Bridges to Understanding and Connection

This week, we focus on the profound role stories play in our lives and in our libraries. Stories connect us—across cultures, experiences, and generations. They help us understand one another, challenge our assumptions, and remind us of our shared humanity.

Libraries have always been about stories, but our role has expanded. We’re not just keepers of stories—we’re facilitators, amplifiers, and co-creators. Initiatives like the Human Library exemplify this shift, offering spaces where individuals can share their lived experiences directly, fostering empathy and breaking down barriers.

The DOK Library in Delft embodied this ethos with their mantra years ago: “Keep stories, make stories, share stories.” Now we can imagine the library as a platform for community storytelling, where patrons contribute to and shape the narrative landscape .

In a world that’s rapidly changing, our challenge is to ensure that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued in our spaces. This means actively seeking out and uplifting diverse voices, creating programs that invite participation, and designing environments—both physical and virtual—that are welcoming to all.

As you engage with this module, consider how storytelling can be a tool for inclusion, connection, and transformation in your library practice.

Lecture Recording

Things to Read:

 

 

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Portions of module text originally written by Hyperlinked Library student Christine Barone. Module created by Elizabeth Olson.

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash
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