Reflection on Module 8: New Models

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“Why do some cities, including San Jose, fail to make the kinds of investments that help libraries become more accessible? I think it’s because too many cities are led by people who don’t recognize the enduring value of libraries. Too many American elites – in policy, business, and philanthropy – see them as luxuries, rather than as critical social infrastructures. I hope my book helps them change their perspective. (Gaetani, 2018)”

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I like learning about all of these new and innovative library models, and reading about them fills me with inspiration and hope. I get excited imagining what libraries can be, as a librarian and as a patron. I feel that librarianship offers a noble path towards actively helping others, and these articles inspire a stronger feeling of determination to continue pursuing this as a career. Even so, I also find myself feeling jealous when I see what is actively available for others and only potentially possible for me. I want everyone, including myself, to have access to these services and programs, and feel increasingly frustrated at the solitary nature of libraries. How are we so connected in our ideals and goals and yet so separate in our actions and implementation? How is it that libraries, even within the same city, can be so wildly different in what they can offer their patrons? Many might point to funding, but by examining this further, it becomes increasingly clear that certain fundamental issues determine who has access to these modern improvements.

What or who decides which libraries in which areas are “worthy” of receiving the funding necessary to implement these innovations, and what are the major aspects that drive this decision-making? Differences in services and programming can be linked to disparities within the library funding model, which can be further linked to historical systems of racial discrimination, wealth inequality, and classism. If the future of libraries is to operate as necessary democratic institutions and vital community centers that offer essential public services, what are we doing to dismantle structural barriers and ensure that these programs aren’t just one-offs? How are we as an industry addressing this actuality, and how can we collectively implement structural foundational changes to ensure equal and equitable access? How can we restructure our municipal and state funding models to ensure every community, regardless of tax base, has the resources necessary to implement innovative services?

Is there a way to pool funding/resources to guarantee nationwide or statewide a minimum baseline of services for all?

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“Klinenberg makes the case for “social infrastructure” – the physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact – as a “missing piece of the puzzle” in building or re-building the places where people can gather to repair the “fractured” societies and “precarious” social order we live in today. (Gaetani, 2018)”

What actionable frameworks can we leverage for the “future of libraries” to build community so that we may overcome the sociopolitical issues that keep us from advancing our communities, professionally, and as a society?

What is it that we need?

Accountability, Interactional Equity, and Community – but how can we achieve this in an era of increasing individualism?

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More Future Brainstorming

Current Expanded Library Services (❁´◡`❁)🎉

1. Early Responders/Disaster Response
2. Photography Studio
3. Community Garden
4. Grab and Grow gardening kits
5. Passport Agent
6. Notary
7. Nature trail
8. Library of things: games, instruments, outdoor equipment, kitchenware
9. Teaching kitchen with chef in residence
10. Mobile Kitchens
11. Rolling Library Train
12. Teen Social Space
13. Homeless Tai Chi
14. Movie theatre
15. Music studios
16. VR classes
17. Gaming rooms
18. Art Studio

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“These services can look like a pair of socks, or helping someone obtain a new ID or bus voucher, or apply for food stamps. It could also be providing suicide intervention or crisis de-escalation. (Harkins, 2023)”

“Erin Mendoza, co-chair of the library’s social service council, said bringing in a social worker has given library staff insight into how to best help library patrons with needs beyond checking out a book or a telescope. (Harkins, 2023)”

“Along with free WiFi, visitors relish the outdoor mini-amphitheater, toddler playground, and special spaces both inside and out to sit, read, and commune. (Bibliotheca, 2024)”

Possible Future Expansions

Schools, daycares, parks, museums, galleries, shelters, hospitals/clinics, fire departments, gardens, elderly care facilities/nursing homes, grocery stores, etc.

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Continuing on from my previous musings, I’ve been wondering, since libraries are evolving to be more akin to community centers, could we design/structure communities around libraries?

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Could we design a hyper-connected, self-sustaining “mini” community hub that positions libraries as civic centers, which would then be surrounded by public/social community infrastructure? This hub would be paired with permanently affordable mixed-income housing that’s supported through cooperative contribution, where housing is kept low in exchange for non-monetary labor. Residents would be able to trade their skills to maintain their community and build equity without financial wealth. In this model, contribution is designed and structured to be diverse, flexible, inclusive, and strictly non-punitive. Volunteering is broad, reciprocal, and tailored to individual abilities, empowering residents to upskill and network within their own community. Vulnerable populations would, of course, be granted full or partial exemptions from contribution quotas without penalty to their housing status. The goal is to prioritize mutual aid, accessibility, and shared sustainability. The community would be overseen by a democratically representative council, and traditional law enforcement would be replaced or heavily supplemented by civilian restorative justice teams trained in social work, trauma-informed care, and conflict de-escalation. Through this model, I’m hoping we could create a vibrant interconnected community that fosters deeper social connection, lowers the cost of living, and empowers all community members to sustain their community, build skills, and support one another.

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As someone who exists within the intersection of many different marginalized identities, I feel it’s important to address these issues, as no action we take, even when helping others, exists within a bubble. I ask these questions not to point out flaws but to instead encourage others to think about the wider systems and issues present that prevent us from achieving the level of care we are dedicated to providing. I hope we can encourage each other to ask these difficult questions and reflect on them when making decisions in our current and future careers.

ALA Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework

https://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/edi/racialequityframework

References

Bibliotheca. (2024, May 22). Mesa Express Library | First fully self-service library in Arizona | Bibliotheca. Bibliotheca. https://www.bibliotheca.com/library-story-mesa-express/

Gaetani, M. (2018). Q&A with Eric Klinenberg. In Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. Stanford University. https://casbs.stanford.edu/news/qa-eric-klinenberg

Harkins, P. (2023, June 30). Salt Lake City downtown library’s new social worker has already helped thousands. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/06/20/salt-lake-city-downtown-librarys/