Library work is intrinsically linked to community outreach and information access. I’m especially passionate about providing access to information and free resources for people of marginalized and oppressed communities. My proposed service is to create a bookmobile service specifically designed to support the recreational and academic reading habits of children in foster care.

Foster care is something close to my heart, as my step-mom was adopted herself and has always talked to my siblings and me about how much she would love to foster or adopt. When my youngest brother was in high school, we were lucky enough to be able to foster a friend of his when her living situation fell through and she was set to uproot her life and move across the country to a new foster home.

I’m familiar with how hard these kids lives can be (although I obviously will never be able to understand the full extent of their lived experiences), and I think that providing access to education at a young age is incredibly important and beneficial to someone’s overall quality of life. Through this service, I would hopefully be bettering the lives of hundreds if not thousands of kids via my librarianship and a bookmobile.

Bookmobile Outreach Road Map

I had a very thought provoking experience reading this module’s materials on sensory spaces and significance of fun and free play. The articles demonstrate excellent examples of ways that people can support learning and education generally while also encouraging people to explore and be curious about their unique and individual interests. I personally have found my most success and impactful learning experiences when incorporating my own passions into my studies. (This course is actually a great example of ways to implement this strategy in a classroom setting!)

Dowdy’s article focuses on the concept of expanding the definition of a playground and encouraging kids (and some adults) to explore different ideas and think out of the box. This idea can be translated well into the setting of libraries, especially when thinking about all the different types of libraries that can exist. People often have a limited idea of what a playground can be or how people can play on structures, but Dowdy highlights the ways that playground designers can create spaces that are versatile and can be used in many ways. Similarly, we can learn from these playgrounds and work to create libraries that can support a wide variety of interests and learning styles.

Sensory spaces are a great example of a way that libraries can support diverse learning styles and interests, especially for kids that aren’t yet at a reading age. These spaces include tools and activities for kids to explore and be curious about learning new things that specifically interest them. While so many educational spaces are structured and have specific curriculums, most people will differ in their specific interests and the ways they learn best. Having a more fluid and open learning environment is a great way to support different types of learning.

References

When I think about how valuable libraries are and the resources they provide, I’m often drawn to the concept of information access. In the current digitally focused era, it can be easy to assume that most, if not all, types of information are easily accessible to anyone and everyone that accesses the internet. However, there are also barriers present that prevent people from sharing their own information and stories. These barriers are often socioeconomic, as people with less power and privilege in society have less access to the resources and means necessary to create and publish creative and/or educational works.

Reading about Storycorps and human library programs reminded me of these barriers and how many people have interesting, valuable, and important stories to share, but may not be able to share them. Hearing about others’ individual experiences and learning from their knowledge and skills is an incredible way to not only educate ourselves and gain new skills, but also to build connection and practice empathy with people different than us.

Although, people can also benefit from diversity in stories when they relate to the materials, especially if they are from a similar or same marginalized and/or oppressed group. I’m an avid advocate for diverse representation in library materials, as people of oppressed and marginalized identities and demographics can build self confidence and have better mental wellbeing when witnessing success in people similar to them. The aforementioned strategies promote inclusivity and diversity in the stories told in libraries through an innovative lens that I grateful appreciate.

References