Tag: Reflection

I loved the storytelling module. I’m presenting my reflection in two related parts – personal and on the readings.

Personal Reflection:
I grew up surrounded by storytellers in Appalachian storytelling culture. Friends, family, neighbors – we were and still are all storytellers.

My elementary school librarian brought world-famous storytellers to our library by partnering with the International Storytelling Center headquartered in nearby Jonesborough, Tennessee. Through this partnership, we learned the art of timing and gestures from master storytellers like Jackie Torrence, who inspired my friends and me to test the limits of just how tall our tales could get.

Stories bring my ancestors back to life and make the ghosts of vanished landmarks appear. I grew up listening and asking questions as my relatives wove tales with echoes of old grudges and unanswered questions in the gaps. I smiled and couldn’t help laughing when someone struggled to get through the giggles of joyful recall. We let our local (gruesome) urban legends run wild.

I learned about history through storytelling. I carry my grandfather’s stories with me about how scary it was to be a young kid flying a B-26 on bombing missions in France and Germany, sometimes being the only plane that made it back. When I miss visiting with him, I can listen to his stories in the Library of Congress Archives.

Because of stories, I know who I am, where I am, and where I come from.
Because of stories, I know what’s possible.
I know we all have stories still in the making.

Reflection on the readings:

I am interested in how the Human Library model could work in the US. My one critique and this may be just a matter of translation or difference in culture, is describing people as human books. When I read this, it felt very “othering” – like making people into objects. I softened on this reading the Human Library’s DEI and Safe Framework statements that expand on the purpose of the storytelling experiences the organization curates for its audience as opportunities for connection to break barriers, bias, and prejudice.

The Human Library reminded me of the 2023 US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. The report dives deep into the data showing that our social networks are shrinking.  The report presents that this epidemic is not a personal or individual problem but a societal issue. It’s not your problem you’re lonely – it’s our problem that we’re increasingly isolated from each other. Some of the proposed remedies for the US loneliness epidemic are to “Strengthen social infrastructure in local communities…invest in local Institutions that bring people together,” and “build a culture of connection” (p. 47). The library is the perfect institution to build this connection.

Libraries brings people physically (and virtually) together. Stories create community and weave connections. Storytelling programs at libraries must do more than “give people access” to someone they would not normally engage with. Storytelling is exchange of experiences that create human connection (a.k.a. community) rather than content consumption or parasocial attachment (as happens with social media).

Connection is an antidote to isolation and loneliness. This can happen at the library.

Convergence of thought:

As we’ve been discussing in our comments, we are living in a heavy moment in time rife with disconnection. I think much of our disconnection and isolation can be mended by storytelling. Not content consumption. Storytelling.

Stories are time travel.

Stories are community builders.

Stories are medicine.

Let’s share our stories and find new ones to tell together.

I started, stopped, deleted, and restarted this blog post several times. I loved the opportunity to see (and celebrate) how libraries are evolving to meet the needs of their unique communities in ways that are accessible and welcoming.

Emerging technology has been one of my focuses throughout this MLIS program and I was (in a good way!) overwhelmed by the discourse and programming possibilities presented in these two modules. I found myself in a bit of a “shiny object” spin at times.

Two trends inspired me and made me pause:

I believe there is a desperate need for digital literacy among our citizenry. Librarians and LIS professionals have the skills and knowledge to be on the frontlines, creating hands-on opportunities for people (students, patrons, educators, coworkers, etc.) to engage with AI tools and gain a foundational understanding of what AI actually is (it is not conscious!) and how it influences our information ecosystems.

The key to this is that librarians and LIS professionals must be open and curious about learning and adopting new technology.

I found a lot in Michael McShane’s article about VR and field trips interesting. The VR and interactive offerings through Explorable Places sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole full of ideas and possibilities. Banyan Global Learning experiences are a great example of how technology in the classroom can bring experiences from around the world to students who may not have access to travel or different cultures. These experiences can show students (and adults) that they are global citizens, connected to a bigger world outside their hometown or classroom.

However, these experiences require high-speed internet, hardware, and a venue. Additionally, VR field trips need institutions and communities that support diverse programming.

My main takeaway from these two modules is that librarians can (and should) be inspired by emerging technologies and innovative programming ideas. However, this should not compromise their ability to meet the needs of library patrons.

Emerging technologies have the power to both mend and fray the fabric of our society. Librarians and LIS professionals must approach emerging technology program development with curiosity, responsiveness (rather than mere reactivity), aspiration, and creativity. To be effective and impactful, though, they must stay grounded in the specific needs of their community, be in alignment with the library’s mission, and be mindful of the capacity of their community, venues, and staff.

I paused the lecture to write this quotation down.
I added underlines and circled it.
I added a star.
And I gave myself a little pep talk.
Maybe you could use one, too – so here is a peek into this past week’s journey through walking imposter syndrome out the door.

Do I belong here?
After spending the first week of this class wondering if I could meaningfully participate and contribute to this class because I do not work in a library, the Block quotation helped me remember who I am, what I have done, and why I started (and am soon finishing) this degree program. It’s an experience I have had a few times over the past three years.

While I have never shelved a book, I have spent my career connecting people with and through meaningful experiences while working in industries and environments more known for gatekeeping adaptation to change. Having started in non-profit work, my career has been very mission-based – I have had those tough conversations about how and if our efforts are fulfilling the organization’s mission and vision. I have developed and delivered countless trainings, events, and programs. I have even escorted intoxicated patrons out of the venue, evacuated the building a few times, and waited with patrons for EMTs to arrive and give them the care they need.

I did not start this program just because I love libraries and want to learn ways to connect people with information and services.

I am getting an MLIS because I want to help people connect and build healthy communities together.

Building relatedness

Libraries are one of the last truly democratic institutions we have in the US. Where else can someone simply walk in and spend the day without spending a dime? Libraries are opportunities for accessibility and connection through programming and access to resources. I was thinking of how the US Surgeon General has declared an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, issued a health warning about the negative impacts of social media on our teens, and confirmed that parents in the US are unhealthily stressed and unsupported. Libraries are public institutions that can help fill the gaps we need to have conversations, meet one another, and find the connections we need to build healthy communities.

A common theme I picked up through our foundational reading and lectures is that libraries, like many industries and institutions, want yet struggle to change their operations and services to optimally meet the needs of the communities they serve. I am well aware of the challenges – the funding, the institutional and organizational norms, etc. – that obstruct the implementation of programs and services.

In this moment, I appreciate having a semester together to play with possibility – play with ideas that may or may not pan out. Too often, in my experience, we don’t get the opportunity to ask “what if?”

The health of our communities is at stake. Libraries are not the only solution, but they can be a vital part of bringing us closer together.

I am all in for a rich, semester-long kickoff to a discussion of possibility and hope.

So, yes, I do belong here. And so do you – whether you have worked in a library for your entire career or, like me, found your way here through a more circuitous path.

Onward!