Assignment X: Participatory Service & Transparency
Assignment X: Participatory Service & Transparency
Module 4 on Participatory Service and Transparency was one of the most intriguing modules so far. A lot of the readings and videos relate heavily to the content I am also interacting with in my other courses, such as INFO 210. Participatory service appears to be one of, if not the most, popular trends in libraries over the last two decades. I felt that most of the readings were still very relevant to today. There are, however, many unprecedented challenges that libraries are currently facing. The expansion of the internet and smartphones could not have been foreseen in the early 2000s. Nearly everyone on Earth has access to all of humanity’s collected knowledge at their fingertips. The 2020s, however, have revealed another unforeseen challenge. The advent of AI brings a whole new dimension to the issues librarians face. I feel that this is one of the main reasons why libraries are so keen on looking into participatory services.
The examples given by the readings are great. They really show how libraries have and will continue to innovate ways to expand services and programs to their users. I particularly enjoy reading about ways that libraries have been able to incorporate patrons into their everyday workflows and spaces, such as in the reading about SFPL’s The Mix (O’Brien, 2019). Ferrell’s (2022) article on what an SFPL card can do was another great article, especially about the free museums and state park parking. These represent great efforts on the part of libraries to get people into libraries, or at the very least into the other services provided by cities and states.
Other articles were great examples of what NOT to do as libraries. Casey and Stephens’ (2008) article was oddly nostalgic as I recall my own public library’s efforts to curb social media use in the early aughts. I agree that there are better ways to increase teen engagement without alienating the vast majority of them. The same can be said for the article on Seattle’s attempts at rebranding. I find it hard to believe that libraries can succumb to the non-transparent methods that companies often employ (Kenney, 2015). I was astounded that a library system would even consider paying for such an expensive and unnecessary rebrand. Libraries are more than logos and posters, they are branded by what they provide to their communities. Gerber (2022) presented data on libraries that kept or eliminated fines and late fees. Late fees were a personal barrier for me. As a child I was afraid of returning my book to an angry librarian, so I held on to the book until the fees were eventually waived…
The ideas posed and implemented by the libraries in Module 4’s readings are great and practical. The plans appear safe and have a high chance of being successful. If we recall back to Module 2, Matthews (2012) urges us to work towards many good ideas and to take risks. In order for libraries to remain relevant in a world that sees them as increasingly irrelevant, libraries need to take the next leap forward. As someone interested in public and school librarianship, I am fearful that AI will not only make reference services obsolete, but will fundamentally change the ways in which users seek and access information. I feel that AI’s real threat is to information literacy. This is where I can draw the connections between the readings and the future of librarianship. Even if reference services were to fundamentally change, librarians can still educate users on information and AI literacy. In addition, the participatory services that are currently being implemented in many libraries will continue to exist as people learn to see libraries as more than homes for books. Maker and learning spaces, toddler/infant programs, job fairs, and voter registration are all things that can contribute to keeping libraries open and alive.
References
Casey, M. & Stephens, M. (2008, May 15). Embracing Service to Teens – Tame the Web. Tametheweb.com. https://tametheweb.com/2008/05/15/embracing-service-to-teens/
Ferrell, J. (2022, September 15). 13 Awesome Free Things You Can Do With An SF Public Library Card. Secret San Francisco. https://secretsanfrancisco.com/sf-public-library-card/
Gerber, A. (2022, September 28). Fine Farewells: LJ’s 2022 Fines and Fees Survey. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/Fine-Farewells-LJs-2022-Fines-and-Fees-Survey
Kenney, B. (2015). Lessons from Seattle’s Failed Bid to Rebrand its Public Library. PublishersWeekly.com. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/68666-brand-awareness-lessons-from-seattle-s-failed-bid-to-rebrand-its-public-library.html
Mathews, B. (2012). Think Like A Start Up. Virginia Tech. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/77d2cb98-ddab-4543-9e47-b011819231b3/content
O’Brien, C. (2019, June 24). How San Francisco’s public libraries are embracing their changing role. Shareable. https://www.shareable.net/how-san-francisco-public-libraries-are-embracing-their-changing-role/