I enrolled in this course knowing nothing about the concept of the Hyperlinked Library; however, it seemed like something that would apply to my job as an Administrative Analyst for a Public Library, and Professor Stephens was highly recommended. I am always looking for practical tools and fresh perspectives. Here, I’ve discovered a dynamic, human-centered approach to library services
I decided to present the Hyperlinked Library as a metaphor, a vast network of stars – each connection illuminating new possibilities, each point of light representing potential for service and community engagement. For this assignment, I created a presentation via Canva with images from gemini.google.com.
Please click below for my virtual symposium (I suggest viewing in full screen):
I picked this proposal because it’s something close to home—our library is just starting to explore the idea of an adult-focused makerspace, while our sister library is already further along in the process. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities, especially as we see creative and vocational programs being cut from schools and other community spaces. I really believe libraries can help fill that gap by offering spaces for hands-on learning, creativity, and connection—especially for adults who may not otherwise have those opportunities.
The Hyattsville Library in Hyattsville, MD libraryjournal.com/story/future-proofing-libraries-through-flexible-design-lj221122
As learning becomes more fluid, personal, and technology-driven, the role of the library is rapidly shifting. I believe the library of the future is not just a resource center—it’s a classroom in its own right: a space for lifelong, interest-driven, and community-powered learning.
Several of the readings support this idea. Mathews (2013) and Stephens (2014, 2016) reimagine librarians as facilitators of infinite learning, designing experiences far beyond traditional reference help. This redefinition includes everything from “messy learning” (Block, 2014) to “learning everywhere” (Stephens, 2012), where curiosity, experimentation, and play take center stage.
Libraries are embracing this role through programs that blend creativity and technology. Makerspaces and 3D printing labs, like those at White Plains Public Library and Chicago Public Library (Digital Promise, 2016), empower patrons to build, create, and learn through doing—offering classroom-like experiences without the constraints of a formal curriculum. Doctorow (2013) calls this a “match made in heaven,” where access meets innovation.
John Palfrey’s “BiblioTech” (2015) reinforces what the evidence increasingly shows: as educational boundaries blur, libraries become essential hubs for lifelong learning—places where education extends beyond institutional walls into community spaces.
The library’s role as a community classroom also emphasizes inclusivity and access. Lauersen (2020) advocates for library strategies centered on culture, diversity, and shared learning, while initiatives like sensory spaces (Public Libraries Connect, 2018; Marsden Library, 2018) create environments that are welcoming for all learning styles.
In today’s digital world, spaces like Fountaindale’s Studio 300 or DC Public Library’s Memory Lab show how libraries help bridge digital divides and cultivate 21st-century skills. Pew Research (2016) confirms that tech-access leads to more lifelong learning—and libraries are key to making that access equitable.
The future library is about so much more than books or even information—it’s about transformation through learning. As society’s educational needs evolve, libraries are positioning themselves not alongside classrooms, but as classrooms themselves: flexible, inclusive, and built for the future of learning.
Lauersen, C. (2020). Learning, culture, community and diversity: New library strategy for Roskilde Libraries 2020. Retrieved from https://www.r-b.dk/om-os/strategi/
Stephens, M. (2012). Learning everywhere. In The heart of librarianship: Attentive, positive, and purposeful change (p. 123). Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
The gallery in our library will host a photography exhibition this fall, including our first community photo archive project (title tbd). For example, we’ll invite the public to bring photos they’d like help identifying—whether to learn who’s in the picture or to discover more about deceased relatives. Other community members may be able to provide missing information about the images or first-hand historical narratives. This, with the readings, prompted me to explore how libraries across the United States have reimagined storytelling as a powerful tool for education, preservation, and community building.
These examples demonstrate how libraries are innovating storytelling programs to engage diverse audiences, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen community bonds.
St. Louis County Library’s 45th Annual Storytelling Festival
From November 13 to 23, 2024, the St. Louis County Library hosted its 45th Annual Storytelling Festival. The event featured performances by eight nationally renowned storytellers, including bilingual and American Sign Language presentations, indigenous storytelling, folklore, and writing workshops. New additions such as “Your Story On Stage,” where community stories were performed by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, enriched the festival’s offerings.
Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Art of Storytelling Program
Since 2000, the Miami-Dade Public Library System has celebrated the “Art of Storytelling” by collaborating with libraries worldwide. This program highlights storytelling’s role in education, culture, and entertainment, featuring workshops, storytelling camps, and an International Festival that attracts thousands of attendees annually.
University of Washington Libraries’ Storytelling Fellows Program
The University of Washington Libraries offers the Storytelling Fellows program, which helps students, faculty, and staff communicate their research effectively through storytelling. The program includes workshops on podcasting, digital exhibits, and video storytelling, aiming to enhance participants’ storytelling skills in various formats.
Santa Fe Public Library’s Community Storytellers Project
The Santa Fe Public Library’s Community Storytellers Project trains community members to gather oral histories, edit recordings, and archive them in a public digital repository. Through workshops and mentorships, participants create a rich living history that fosters community dialogue and healing.
Libraries have long been more than just repositories of books—they are vibrant cultural centers that breathe life into stories, connecting communities through shared experiences and diverse narratives. The power of a story lies not just in its telling but in its ability to connect us—to our history, to each other, and to ourselves. Libraries across the United States are proving that storytelling is an art form that can transform individuals and communities, one narrative at a time.
Libraries are on the cusp of a technological revolution, with artificial intelligence (AI) poised to reshape service delivery and operational strategies. Experts predicted that by 2025, AI would fundamentally transform libraries into more technology-driven, user-focused institutions (Pew Research Center, 2021).
The Krupp Library’s ChatGPT Perspective discusses how AI tools are being integrated into library systems to assist with research, reference services, and customer interactions, already enabling libraries to provide augmented services, including 24/7 real-time assistance through intelligent chatbots and personalized resource recommendations. As AI automates routine tasks like cataloging, digitization, and metadata tagging, librarians are freed to focus on more creative and strategic work (Inside Higher Ed, 2023).
However, this technological integration is not without challenges. Library professionals must develop new skills, particularly AI literacy, to effectively manage and leverage these emerging technologies. The ability to troubleshoot AI systems while maintaining human-centered services has become crucial (SJSU, 2023).
The evolving role of librarians now encompasses not just traditional information management but also serving as guides in an increasingly digital information landscape. They must critically evaluate AI tools, ensure ethical implementation, and help patrons navigate complex technological resources.
As libraries adopt AI, the goal remains consistent: leveraging technology to improve access, personalization, and engagement while preserving the fundamental mission of supporting learning and community knowledge.
I also created this infographic that explores areas of AI as a support tool that augments, rather than replaces, intersecting technological innovation with human-centered services.
References
Anderson, J., Rainie, L., & Vogels, E. A. (2021, February 18). Experts say the ‘new normal’ in 2025 will be far more tech-driven, presenting more big challenges. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/02/18/experts-say-the-new-normal-in-2025-will-be-far-more-tech-driven-presenting-more-big-challenges/
American Libraries Magazine. (2019, March 1). AI and machine learning in libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/03/01/ai-machine-learning-libraries/
Inside Higher Ed. (2023, May 4). Getting a grip on ChatGPT. https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/05/04/getting-grip-chatgpt
Krupp Library. (2023). ChatGPT: A library perspective. Bryant University Library. https://library.bryant.edu/chatgpt-library-perspective
Moriarty, T. (2023, March 1). Chatting with ChatGPT: Deep dive in five with Tom Moriarty. San José State University NewsCenter. https://blogs.sjsu.edu/newsroom/2023/chatting-with-chat-gpt-deep-dive-in-five-with-tom-moriarty/
THE IDEA: The Pacific Grove Public Library will establish recurring emergency preparedness forums that bring together local government officials, emergency response teams, community organizations, and residents. These forums will provide critical information, build community connections, and distribute emergency preparedness resources to community members.
Please click the below link to view the Google Slideshow.
The Salt Lake City Public Library’s (SLCPL) Strategic Roadmap caught my attention as my library works on its strategic plan. SLCPL included civic engagement as a core focus area, highlighting its role as a “civic educator” and “community convener”. We are working to position our library as a hub for civic activities, where local government, community organizations, and residents come together for meaningful discussions and events. The immediate goal is to promote the library as a central venue for programs like budget workshops, wildfire prevention talks, candidate forums, and so on. Public libraries are uniquely positioned to help citizens develop the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to become active participants in creating vibrant communities.
AI Generated with Canva App (Magic Media)
Libraries: Bridging Divides and Fostering Dialogue
Nationwide, libraries are embracing their role as civic spaces. The Aspen Institute’s Rising to the Challenge report emphasizes how libraries serve as trusted forums for constructive dialogue on community issues. They “ensure equitable access and provide important civic space for advancing democracy and the common good”. Across the country, libraries are hosting town halls, facilitating discussions on policy matters, and offering programs that help residents navigate complex civic topics. These efforts are essential in bridging social and political divides, providing a space where diverse perspectives are heard and respected.
The Benefits of Libraries as Civic Hubs
Libraries empower informed citizenship by ensuring access to reliable, fact-based resources. They provide a platform for diverse voices, hosting discussions that reflect the experiences and concerns of the entire community. Additionally, libraries serve as a conduit between residents and local government, fostering transparency and engagement through events like public forums and civic education workshops.
Looking Ahead
As pillars of democracy, libraries play a vital role in strengthening civic participation and community resilience. Looking forward, libraries must continue to evolve as centers for civic engagement, ensuring that all citizens have the tools and opportunities to actively shape their communities.
Public libraries have long been on the front lines of society, evolving beyond simply linking people to information—as hyperlinked community hubs, diverse individuals connect across physical and virtual spaces. These hyperlinked communities engage through both physical gatherings and digital platforms, and libraries exemplify this model by creating spaces that are welcoming to all and seek to eliminate barriers to access. In a sampling of 31 library mission/vision/value statements, Drew (2021) notes that while unique based on location, messaging related to inclusion and the enrichment of the individual and the community is seen throughout.
The first African American to head a branch of the New York Public Library, Regina Andrews played a key role in the Harlem Renaissance, supporting writers and intellectuals with a dedicated workspace at her 135th St Branch Library.
Public libraries “belong at the very heart of people’s lives, contributing to their enjoyment and inspiration, cultural values, learning, economic prosperity and social equity” (Yarrow, A., Clubb, B. & Draper, J.L. 2008). The article by Jensen (2017) expands, stating, “libraries are not, nor have they ever been, neutral spaces”. This has been much on my mind, and Jensen’s article especially resonated with me. Jensen continues, “by inviting all in a community to be in a shared space, libraries embrace the idea of encouraging education, encouraging acceptance and tolerance ”. These are concepts that I’ve connected to art in libraries.
Our library responded to a community movement transforming a space into an art gallery, which has hosted exhibitions with a call towards social justice and inclusion. Additionally, many libraries across the globe are digitizing historical works of art as well as contemporary artworks and related data so they can be shared without limitations.
“Art can serve personal, political, and aesthetic functions, including personal expression, and social, historical, or political messaging” (ALA, 2006). As such, visual artists frequently expose vulnerabilities and are involved in social justice movements.
Opening of Renaissance, a fine art exhibition and series of events. 2022 @pgpubliclibrary
Our small gallery has hosted art shows that run the gamut from large canvas paintings to calligraphy, sculpture, mixed media, quilt making, and more. The artists themselves are equally diverse, from studio artists to student artists to photography clubs to a quilter’s guild to an art therapy group of neurologically disabled adults. Each fall, the library hosts a juried art show and a series of events. The architect of these had been an instructor in human services and social sciences, curating around raising social awareness. For example, the 2022 exhibition was titled “Renaissance: Remember, Rise, Revitalize – celebrating the Harlem Renaissance and rising above restrictions”. 2023 was titled “Ourselves We Sing: a Call and Response to Walt Whitman” and emphasized voting and the long history of voting rights.
Presenters at these events included poet laureates and musicians of Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+, and Native American heritage, with advocacy agencies and additional installations such as Día de los Muertos altars and the REDress Project highlighting missing and murdered Indigenous women. Due to numerous requests to document these installations and events, we partnered with a local film company to create professional recordings for our library’s YouTube channel. These digital extensions of our physical exhibitions create additional hyperlinks between community members, allowing conversations beyond the library’s walls and enabling wider participation in these important cultural dialogues.
2023 Fall Series @pgupubliclibrary. Jonathan Labillois Still Dancing, 2014 on loan (features images of murdered and missing indigenous women)
Art in libraries is one example of how modern libraries function as hyperlinked community hubs—spaces where diverse voices intersect, connect, and amplify one another with the potential for connecting experience at the library to civic action in their community (such as high school students organizing a voting drive). As we navigate the digital age, libraries remain uniquely positioned to strengthen these hyperlinked communities by bridging physical and virtual spaces, ensuring that all community members—regardless of background or ability—can find meaningful connections through shared cultural experiences. In this way, libraries fulfill their enduring mission of connecting people to information and connecting people to each other in increasingly meaningful and inclusive ways.
Yarrow, A., Clubb, B. & Draper, J.L. (2008). Public libraries, archives and museums: Trends in collaboration and cooperation: 108. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.://archive.ifla.org/VII/s8/pub/Profrep108.pdf
This lesson hit home during my first ECE class at Cuesta College. When a classmate gave a presentation about high school experiences, I assumed hers to have been charmed. These testimonies revealed challenges universal to all teenagers that transcended appearances and circumstances, a realization that helped me see the complexity of adolescence. Having guided young people through their teenage years, that awareness has deepened. I see the weight and promise of adolescence, reinforcing why welcoming, empathetic library spaces are crucial for our teen community.
A Service Gap. This early revelation mirrors a broader challenge in library services. As @michael (2019) notes, many libraries offer robust programming for children and adults, while teen service often lags (p. 23). Teens are engaged early in their youth, then often lost as patrons during adolescence, only to return once they become parents (Casey & Savastinuk, 2007). This highlights a gap in library services and points to the need for engagement with this age group.
Movie: The Breakfast Club. John Hughes
Adults often misunderstand teens, as danah boyd (2014) notes, seeing their lives through the lens of their own experiences. This results in an incomplete understanding of adolescence, especially socialization and public engagement (p. 10). To bridge this gap, libraries are rethinking their approach to teen services. Moving from theory to practice, my early revelation parallels the importance of a thoughtful approach to teen library services that reflects the complexities of teenage lives and not just a single, homogenized narrative about what it means to be a teen.
Creating Participatory Spaces. A key solution lies in involving teens directly in library services. Gen Z, born into a digital world, engages with library spaces differently than previous generations. As Berens & Noorda (2023) observe, these teens are not just consumers, but creators, blending physical and digital experiences in new ways (p. 12). Libraries must adapt to these evolving needs, while still fulfilling their core mission of providing access to information and fostering community.
Examples like the SFPL’s “The Mix” and the Creekview High School Media Center’s “The Unquiet Library” illustrate how participatory design can create engaging, interactive spaces for teens (O’Brien, 2019; Matthews, 2010). These libraries tapped into the perspectives of teens, building environments that cater to their digital literacy and creative needs.
Challenges in Implementing Teen Services. While inspiring, creating teen-friendly spaces is not always feasible. Libraries with limited resources must find creative solutions, such as using partitions to create a “Teen Zone” within existing spaces, ensuring supervision and accessibility. Regardless, balancing the needs of all library users can be challenging. As @michael (2008) notes, library staff must manage behavioral issues across different age groups, making it essential to maintain an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for all patrons.
Strategies for Engaging Teens. Though my library is lucky to have a teen librarian and funding, engaging teens can be difficult. We have found several strategies reflective of assigned readings that have begun to bridge the gap:
Digital Engagement: Maintaining a teen webpage, newsletters, and an active social media presence.
Physical Space & Programming: Offering events like D&D, crafts, and challenges to appeal to expressed interests, as well as offering refreshments and prizes.
Community Connection: Partnering with schools and businesses that teens patronize or employ teens, utilizing social media tags and other forms of communication.
Youth Voices: Gathering direct feedback and a future Teen Advisory Board.
Books & Materials: Providing a wide array of genres and topics, including graphic novels and a library of things (Switch, vinyl, cooking tools).
A Shift in Perspective. As libraries evolve in the digital age, so too must their approach to teen services. Moving beyond the “single story” via concepts such as the #hyperlinkedlibrary and participatory services benefits not just young people, but the entire library community.
Hi and welcome to my INFO 287 Blog! I’m Angela, working and living on the Monterey Peninsula. I currently serve as an Administrative Analyst at our Public Library and part-time Bookkeeper/Office Manager for a concrete company. With degrees in early childhood education and social science, I spent 20 years running preschools before transitioning to my current library role.
The Monterey BayLovers Point, Pacific Grove
My library position was a serendipitous pivot suggested by my supervisor. As a lifelong lover of all things library, this role inspired me to pursue an MLIS to gain foundational knowledge and better understand operations, roles, and trends. My primary interests lie in public libraries, special libraries, and reference services. This course with Dr. Stephens aligns perfectly with my professional goals, and my Director has obtained approval for an increase to 40 hours in part for developing innovative programming and initiatives.
On a personal note, my adult daughter is studying psychology and kinesiology, graduating in May and exploring sports psychology as a potential career path. We lost my husband to leukemia when she was in elementary school, and we’re very close. Attending college at the same time has been a kick.
Outside of work and studies, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and our dog Sadie, along with reading, cooking, and watching cooking shows. I’m looking forward to learning with all of you!
I picked this proposal because it’s something close to home—our library is just starting to explore the idea of an adult-focused makerspace, while our sister library is already further along in the process. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities, especially as we see creative and vocational programs being cut from schools and other community spaces. I really believe libraries can help fill that gap by offering spaces for hands-on learning, creativity, and connection—especially for adults who may not otherwise have those opportunities.
