Reflecting on the Power of Stories

Reflection on the Power of Stories

This module of readings really made me consider the role of libraries, especially public libraries, in the grand scheme of community partnership and building. We have learned about the importance of user assessment and input; community outreach; and digital divides. It was not until now that we have learned about the role that libraries play in capturing user memory and experience. The readings portray this process as an academic pursuit: libraries are collecting and storing this information akin to how historians have collected oral histories. Libraries do not only store the written record, there are a myriad of ways that libraries collect and house audio and visual records. Wentz (2013) writes about the examples of “human” libraries that have emerged in the 2010s. These programs capture and collect the experiences and stories of participants, which in turn are borrowed by other users to hear for themselves (2013). Wentz details a lot of possible benefits for libraries, such as greater publicity and opportunities for collaboration, but also allowing for greater integration within the communities they serve. 

Arne-Skidmore (2021) argues that the benefits of the human library go beyond logistical and business benefits. The community members benefit immensely from the program as well. Those who participate in the human library gain deeper understandings of diversity and realize that inclusion requires more than just listening–it requires action (2021). The human library allows users to have continued dialogues about shared or different experiences, and the chance to reflect on their own biases. Through this program, libraries are able to function as a sort of community mediator that seeks to reconcile differences between members by fostering productive dialogues. Libraries emerge as more than just storehouses for books; they are also meeting grounds for the sharing of stories, memories, and memories.  

References

Arne-Skidmore, E. (2021, April 8). New study on the impact of the Human Library. The Human Library Organization. https://humanlibrary.org/new-study-on-the-impact-of-the-human-library/

Wentz, E. (2013, April 26). The Human Library: Sharing the Community with Itself» Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/human_librar/