Virtual Symposium
Hello, it’s Ron. Welcome to my Virtual Symposium.
Overall, this course was truly inspiring, especially during a time when we all need motivation. There are many key insights to reflect on (too many to detail here), but I will discuss my five main takeaways.
First, the library is a living, breathing ecosystem. It responds to external stimuli and evolves. In essence, the library is defined by its people!
Second, if the library embodies its people, then we, as librarians, must ensure we guide the library in the right direction. Using the library-as-ecosystem analogy, it’s crucial to introduce new elements thoughtfully. We must avoid implementing changes prematurely, allowing elements to overstay their welcome, or removing resources too quickly. I find the concept of “techno-lust” particularly relevant here.
This brings me to my third point: let the people be the change—don’t go chasing change! While new trends can be exciting, we must ask ourselves whether our library truly desires or needs these changes. We should allow the library community to express what it wants. Who knows? You might even spark the next big trend.
My fourth point is: don’t get stuck in the sand! Sometimes, we can be so resistant to change that we end up making no changes at all. Remember: the only constant is change! Everything we cherish today was once considered a change. Embrace this idea by fostering trust within your community.
Finally, let’s talk about curiosity. I could elaborate on this concept for ages, but the bottom line is that curiosity is essential. Libraries exist to serve the community, which means we need to cultivate curiosity to fulfill our mission. We must commit to lifelong learning and approach everything with an investigative mindset. Let your curiosity guide you.
Combining these elements will create a hyperlinked community, with the library as its hub.
(Google Drive URL for Virtual Symposium Graphics)
Reflection
All of these themes were reflected in my assignments. In Assignment X, I felt deeply connected to the core concepts of this course. I entered with an understanding of the library’s value to the community, but the challenge was figuring out how to put this knowledge into practice.
This process unfolded through my reflections. As I navigated each module, I challenged both the content and myself. My main takeaway was to remain curious and embrace the future.
Then came my inspiration report, where I explored how I could leverage this curiosity to create a scalable and practical program.
As I conclude this course, I am committed to staying curious and allowing that curiosity to drive my efforts.
The Greatest Hits
I have compiled a list of my favorite readings and content from the semester:
- Buckland, M. (1999). Redesigning Library Services: A Manifesto. Please read Preface & The Challenge.
- Weinberger, D. (2001). “The hyperlinked organization” in The Cluetrain Manifesto, p. 86 -123
- Stephens, M. (2010). The hyperlinked school library: engage, explore, celebrate.
- Denning, S. (2015). Do We Need Libraries?
- Stephens, M. (2016). “Stuck in the past” in The Heart of Librarianship, p. 54
- Schmidt, A. (2013). Earning trust. The User Experience. PDF: SchmidtEarningTrust
- Williams, A. (2021). How Libraries Are Bridging the Digital Divide.
- Gaetani, M. (2018). Libraries and Social Infrastructure.
- Paxaman, M. (2019). Challenged but not dying, the public libraries are more relevant than ever.
- Wentz, E. (2013). The Human Library: Sharing the Community with Itself
@rharris Great reflection and takeaways from the course Ron! I’m working on my symposium piece now and it’s interesting how my highlights are different. This course definitely had a choose your own adventure vibe and I appreciate that there was many paths to take to fit many different styles and contexts! Good luck in your studies and your career!
Agreed. I quite enjoyed the choose your own adventure style of the course. It allowed everyone to have different experiences and takeaways from the course. I have enjoyed reading them all.