In a Book Bind

For my infinite learning reflection, I wanted to focus on professional learning experiences and development of skills for library staff. As stated by Professor Stephens in the lecture, “We should ALWAYS be learning. Always look to improve your practice” (Panopto, 2022).

While I believe that conferences and meetings are obviously beneficial to a library worker’s career, it is also important for librarians to feel seen and appreciated, and to have time to learn in a more relaxed, fun state.

Library workers face a lot of stress at work, which can harm their well-being and damage their work capabilities. Library workers deal with rude customers, fatigue, short staffing, poor management, and much more (Simon, 2020). To help cope with this, it is so important to have staff building days and activities to help combat this stress – and to make it welcoming and fun!

(ABOVE: a video showcasing all the different ways that Oak Park Public Library in Illinois helps their staff develop skills and grow in their profession as a team) 

Staff development days are simply when the library staff comes together when it is closed to learn anything that might help them grow in their career and as a person. This helps the library and staff remain at a “healthy state” (Stephens, 2016). These days could involve anything from having a potluck and sharing something you’ve learned in the past week, to having yoga classes and going over stress reduction techniques.

Ames Public Library in Iowa has a Library Staff Day that is a great example of this. They provide a day of learning just for staff – which allows them to connect, learn, and have fun. They go over initiatives and plans, have guest speakers, review their achievements, have break-out sessions, talk about self-care, take part in games and scavenger hunts, and take group photos (Schofer, 2023). They do all of these activities that help the staff grow, but allows them to relax and have fun while doing it, and also feel appreciated for their work.

@chplibrarynj

Find out what we really do at Staff Development Day! Check out out ukuleles – available in our Library of Things. You never know what you will find at CHPL! #cherryhillnj #cherryhill #nj #library #librarytiktok #cherryhillnewjersey

♬ original sound – Cherry Hill Public Library

(ABOVE: a video showcasing moments from Staff Development Day at Cherry Hill Public Library in New Jersey) 

To keep the staff learning going, these development days should not be limited to once a year. These development days should be consistent and often. It is also a fun idea to set up a “library for your librarians”, in a private office area (Pan, 2024). This could be a space with learning activities, staff idea boards, books and resources on libraries, and more. It could also be a space where library workers can “get away” for a little bit and take time to collaborate and have private discussions with coworkers.

However your library sees fit, it is important to have staff development days and exercises. Library workers experience stress quite often, and to keep the staff at their best state, they must be recognized and have help with ways to cope. It is also important that the staff is always learning and growing, to help serve their communities better and provide the best services possible.

 

References:

Pan, N. (2024, May 29). Setting up an office library for your team. aceofficesystems.com. https://aceofficesystems.com/blogs/news/setting-up-an-office-library-for-your-team

Panopto. (2022). Professional Learning Experiences (Update). Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=bff73e26-45aa-4407-bb54-b14a015304f4.

Schofer, S. (2023, February 23). Library staff day. Ames Public Library. https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/node/41092

Simon, K. (2020). Emotional labor, stressors, and librarians who work with the public. School of Information Student Research Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.31979/2575-2499.100106

Stephens, M. (2016). The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change. ALA Editions.

While reading module 10 on “The Power of Stories”, I was really fascinated by the Library Listening Lab at West Community Library at St. Petersburg College and its creation. Starting in 2008, they went from iTunes listening stations to a full-on collection of vinyl, zines, listening equipment, workshops on music, and more. They even made little pocket-sized publications on certain albums that could be read in tandem with listening. They also have a blog and radio program where albums are discussed in more detail, ranging in genres and showcasing music that is not in the mainstream (Mairn & Terrana, 2022). This program is such a full-on learning and immersive experience, and I wish it were available at more libraries.

After reading about this Listening Lab, I wanted to see who else was doing this – and I found out that my hometown of Memphis, TN actually has a Memphis Listening Lab that was created in 2021. Memphis Listening Lab is free and open to the public – they are only funded by donors and sponsors. What started off as a collection of LP record holdings at the old main branch of Memphis Public Libraries has turned into the Memphis Listening Lab – a huge vault of thousands of vinyl, CDs, music books, photos, tapes, and ephemera. They host listening sessions and musical performances. There is even a computer room where guests can digitize music to take home with them – or you can go to the production studio and record your own music, or perhaps a podcast of you talking about your favorite music discovered in the lab (Greene, 2024).

The city of Memphis has a deep connection to music, particularly blues and soul, so it makes perfect sense to have an immersive music learning experience such as this within the city limits. But I believe that libraries everywhere can take inspiration from programs like this and implement something of a similar nature. The library is no longer just about books, it can involve anything that creates a learning environment – and music is a strong facilitator in learning and enrichment, and could be expanded in numerous ways.

 

References: 

Greene, A. (2024, August 5). The Memphis Listening Lab. Memphis magazine. https://memphismagazine.com/features/my-memphis-the-memphis-listening-lab/

Home. Memphis Listening Lab. (2024, February 2). https://memphislisteninglab.org/

Mairn, C., & Terrana, J. (2022). A Library’s Listening Lab. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MairnListeningLab.pdf

During the module 8 readings for new models, the topic that stood out to me the most was the planning and implementation of the Anythink Nature Library in Thornton, Colorado – where their vision is to “help people find their place in nature”. In this ever-growing technological world that we live in now, it’s important to come back down to Earth (literally) and fully become one with nature. The Anythink Nature Library will offer this, but also plans to make it very fun and interactive. They include gardens, walking trails, nature learning workshops, and more – with 33,000 square feet of property, which will be surrounded by 140 acres of open space (Anythink Nature Library Projects, 2024).

The idea was inspired by the Environmental Kinship Guide, an organization that works to teach and help people learn about the natural world. There was also an advisory council for the project, including Indigenous and Native American leaders in Colorado. The thought and vision of the library is a collection of many ideas from people of many different backgrounds, but all of whom are connected with nature somehow.

Many people are losing or have lost touch with nature, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. People are sitting in front of screens and inside of their homes much of the time – and many are nocturnal and hardly see the light of day. But it has been scientifically proven that being outside is great for physical and mental health and is known to decrease depression and anxiety (Joschko et al., 2023).

Not only will this space be good for patrons’ mental well-being, but it will also take it further by connecting people to nature while also connecting them to one another. It will get patrons out and meeting their neighbors, and then growing flowers or food for the community together – which is so beautiful.

Libraries everywhere should try to utilize some type of nature program, even if it is just creating a community flower bed or a simple walking trail around the library – to give the patrons the option to stay inside or explore further outdoors and get some fresh air. This can bring the patrons closer to nature, better their mental health, and probably help patrons just make healthier choices about what they consume and surround themselves with.

 

References: 

Anythink Nature Library Projects. RDH Building Science. (2024, March 14). https://www.rdh.com/our-case-studies/anythink-nature-library/

Eki. EKI Guide. (n.d.). https://environmentalkinship.org/

Joschko, L., Pálsdóttir, A. M., Grahn, P., & Hinse, M. (2023). Nature-based therapy in individuals with mental health disorders, with a focus on mental well-being and connectedness to nature—a pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2167. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032167

Nature library. Nature Library. (2024, October 17). https://www.anythinklibraries.org/nature-library

Here is my innovation strategy and roadmap assignment presentation. I chose to create “zine zones” for Memphis Public Libraries. A “zine zone” is a creative space with supplies provided to create zines, physically and digitally, which will showcase the creativity, talent, and voices of the MPL patrons – and also include information pertaining to the library and its’ services. There will also be regular workshops on the history of zines, how to make zines, creative writing and art classes, and anything else that might help with the creative process.

Here is the LINK to the presentation. 

For my blogging adventure, I chose to explore the Dokk1 Public Library in Aarhus, Denmark in further detail. While I have heard several things about this library from Dr. Stephens and several others, I have mostly heard about the fascinating architecture, specifically the world’s largest tubular bell that rings every time a baby is born in the community (Zorthian, 2016).

The architecture, which is built around community engagement and accessibility, is incredible and helped them deserve best public library in the world in 2016 (Ro, 2016). When doing further research, what really caught my attention was their involvement with engaging the community in togetherness through conversation with the public and including everyone that they can. Because of their central location and access to public parking and transit, the library is a great meeting spot that really “fosters togetherness” and brings different groups together (Lapointe, 2022).

One way they empower locals in their community to use the library and feel welcome is through their involvement with Værestedet, which is a local safe space for those dealing with substance abuse issues, homelessness, mental illness, or other social challenges. They have gotten heavily involved with this community by listening to their ideas and creating activities for the library with them. By working together, they were able to create several solutions to help these community members feel welcome and “seen” – including more present social librarians, a bookcase and cozy reading corner made just for them, and creative writing workshops and public conversations about issues that people in this community face – which they have titled “Tales from the Street” (Ashley, 2022).

Dokk1 is hoping that by doing this they are helping bridge the gap between these patrons who have felt socially marginalized and the rest of the community – and in turn inspiring the rest of Europe, and hopefully the rest of the world, to do the same. For Dokk1, every citizen counts and is a key factor in their values, and it is a place that is a “flexible and dynamic sanctuary for everyone in search of knowledge, inspiration, and personal development” (Librarybuildings.info, 2022).

Their library has inspired me to remember to involve and listen to all local community members, every age and every group, at whatever library I end up at. I want anyone who comes to my library to feel welcome and empowered when they walk in, and to know that they have a say in the design and services. Just like Dokk1 Library, I hope my library is like the “living room” of my community, or like a second home to anyone walking in (Morehart, 2016).

 

References:

Ashley. (2022, March 8). Inclusive Democratic libraries. European Cultural Foundation. https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/inclusive-democratic-libraries/

Lapointe, M. (2022, August 31). Spotlighting the dokk1 library: Princh library blog. Princh. https://princh.com/blog-spotlighting-dokk1-library/

Librarybuildings.info. (2022). DOKK1. https://librarybuildings.info/denmark/dokk1

Morehart, P. (2016, August 29). Moving beyond the “third place.” American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/library-design-moving-beyond-third-place/

Ro, L. (2016, August 17). Scandinavia’s largest library wins title of Public Library of the Year. Curbed. https://archive.curbed.com/2016/8/17/12522536/dokk1-ifla-public-library-of-the-year-schmidt-hammer-lassen

Zorthian, J., & Time. (2017, June 20). Look inside the most cutting-edge public library in the world. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2016/08/20/dokk1-aarhaus-public-library/

 

Our recent module on hyperlinked communities was eye-opening in several ways, and it was hard to pick just one article to speak on. The main takeaway I got was that we need to always be inclusive, welcoming, and respectful to all – and to host open conversations, on sometimes harder topics. Sometimes people are put into challenging situations and do not know where to go or who to talk to about it. For instance, in the TEDx Talk by Ciara Eastell, she mentions a man who came to the library who was grieving after his wife’s death and needed the help of the librarian, because no one else could help.

There’s also the Richland Library in South Carolina, who hosted the “Let’s Talk Race” conversations, after the trial of Dylann Roof, the man who murdered 9 African American churchgoers in a city near them. It left the community in unrest and created tension, and by having open and honest (and respectful) conversations about race, it helped their community heal and understand together (Dixon, 2017).

Yes, it is fun and connecting to have games, makerspaces, and crafts – but it’s also crucial to have spaces that invite difficult topics and harder conversations to help people heal. We need to host open conversation with our community members, one-on-one, and in groups. These conversations can break down walls and biases, or they can just help cure someone’s loneliness and need for social connection. By doing this, we can connect with our patrons on a deeper level and get them the help that they need, by just being able to let out what is bothering them. “Instead of asking people about libraries, we need to ask people about their lives” (Schmidt, 2016).

 

References:

Dixon, J. A. (2017, October 23). Convening community conversations: Programming. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/convening-community-conversations-programming

Eastell, C. (2019, June 13). How libraries change lives TEDx Talk. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvt-lHZBUwU

Richland Library’s “Let’s talk race” series. SC Humanities. (2021, April 28). https://schumanities.org/richland-librarys-lets-talk-race-community-initiative/

Schmidt, A. (2016, May 4). Asking the right questions: The user experience. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/asking-the-right-questions-the-user-experience

User experience (UX) design is something that has always been of interest to me and that I personally believe is so important for successful libraries. I wanted to become a librarian to help people and give them opportunities that they wouldn’t have otherwise. I aspire to be a part of a library that is truly “made for the people”.

As mentioned by Saskia Leferink, “environmental psychology confirms that physical books give us comfort as well as knowledge” (2019). While the physical books do provide a comforting atmosphere, libraries have become so much more than that. With changing times and technology, it’s crucial that libraries MUST become more than that. Libraries are constantly evolving, in the physical and digital sense, and the user should always be at the center of these changes. In the article “Users at the Center of Everything”, librarian and architect Lauren Stara states, “learning to look at a situation with a beginner’s mind—putting aside your years of education and experience in librarianship and seeing your library from a new user’s point of view—is the key” (Bignoli & Stara, 2021). I wholeheartedly agree with this and believe that we should put aside our beliefs constantly as librarians to learn to walk in the shoes of our patrons. We must empathize and figure out what our patrons truly need and want.

 

For example, what is the point of having new, up-to-date technology and design as part of our library services, if no one knows how to use them or what to use them for? Many libraries are developing user experience toolkits to help figure out how to better serve their communities, which I believe is a great idea. Librarians are trying to figure out what tools and programs they deem useful, “which is determined by whether it has all the necessary features (utility) and whether those features are easy to use and pleasant” (Asikin-Garmager et al., 2022). We must first figure out what our patrons desire and need, then also figure out the best way to implement those ideas.

User experience is much more than measurement in numbers and data, as it is much more involved and empathetic. We must talk to our users, observe them and how they use the library, have in-depth discussions, and bounce ideas with them. It is so important to help our users know that they are important and involve them in the library’s development as much as possible. “UX can extend to every touchpoint which the library creates where the user or community connects with the library’s human or material resources, both physically or virtually” (Appleton, 2016).

Some ideas can be very complex and harder to accomplish, while some can be very simple and implemented immediately. I really loved the article shared by Dr. Stephens about the Creekview High School Library in Georgia, where the high schoolers are “geeked” about the space. Teenagers can sometimes be the hardest to get involved with the library, but this high school made their space welcoming for them by focusing on their wants and needs. Their library encourages the use of cell phones and technology, instead of shunning them, and have made their devices into “instruments of learning”. The media center they have created is a place for relaxing, learning, and reflection – but also a space for fun, excitement, and creativity. They have a café for social gatherings, gaming equipment for those who don’t have it at home or just want to socially game, public performances and exhibits for students to show their creativity, and much more (Mathews, 2010).

The “Unquiet Library” at Creekview High School (SOURCE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theunquietlibrary/)

While the maker movement and these creative spaces are open to all and are wonderful with helping keep libraries alive and vibrant, many of them are youth focused. User experience also involves creating spaces for all groups and all people. The Ballard Public Library in Seattle is doing a great job at this and have even created a “little city hall” for their users. Patrons can go to the library and learn everything about free public services in the city, pay their bills, take workshops on career building and get help applying for jobs – services that can really impact someone’s life and help them not feel so lost (Mattern, 2014). As mentioned by Aaron Schmidt, sometimes it could be something like a library offering public showers. While this idea seemed kind of silly to him, it’s not a silly idea at all as this is a real need in some communities and was actually a need for him in that moment (Schmidt, 2014).

I am excited to take all these user experience ideas and concepts with me to whatever library I become a part of, and I can’t wait to devote myself to my community in whatever way they need. As Dr. Stephens states in The Heart of Librarianship, “The best librarians make good, rapid decisions based on evidence, experience, and a view of the big picture” (2016). I want whatever library I become a part of to focus on putting the patrons at the forefront and using our infrastructure to provide whatever is needed or wanted, practical or fun.

 

References:

Appleton, L. (2016). User experience (UX) in libraries: Let’s get physical (and digital). Insights the UKSG Journal, 29(3), 224–227. https://doi.org/10.1629/uksg.317

Asikin-Garmager, A., Dowd, P., George, S., & Afifi, R. A. (2022). Integrating user experience evaluation in the development of a web-based Community Engagement Toolkit. Evaluation and Program Planning, 91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102048

Bignoli, C., & Stara, L. (2021, March 1). Users at the Center of Everything. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2021/03/01/user-experience-center-of-everything/

Leferink, S. (2019, June 4). To keep people happy … keep some books. OCLC Next. https://blog.oclc.org/next/to-keep-people-happy-keep-some-books/

Mathews, B. (2010, June 21). Unquiet Library has high-schoolers geeked. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2010/06/21/unquiet-library-has-high-schoolers-geeked/

Mattern, S. (2014, June 1). Library as infrastructure. Places Journal. https://placesjournal.org/article/library-as-infrastructure/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6czkn_O4iAMVo5paBR3nTDIIEAAYASAAEgLRr_D_BwE

Schmidt, A. (2014, May 6). Exploring context: The user experience. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/exploring-context-the-user-experience

Stephens, M. T. (2016). The heart of librarianship: Attentive, positive, and purposeful change. ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association.

Hello, my name is Millicent and I currently reside in Mississippi. I chose this course to acquaint myself more with tech in the library and possible ideas to bring into my own library, or a future library I work for. I am excited to get to know more people in the librarian community and share ideas. My chosen area of interest in the LIS world is academic librarianship. I love to help others with research and also analyzing collections to find the best ways to reach users and provide them with what they need.

As for my personal life, I am a very introverted person that likes to read, watch movies, and write. It’s kind of funny because both of my jobs are pretty social and front facing with the community, but they have helped me bust out of my shell more and meet more people.

I enjoy horror anything and I love to be frightened. It gives me a rush and oddly helps with my anxiety. I also love to travel and experience new things, whatever they may be. I am not a picky person and I usually will try anything once.

I can’t wait to get to know you all more and to learn as much as I possibly can throughout this class.

Here are some pictures:

1. a recent dish I cooked that was DELICIOUS

2. a pic from a recent trip I took to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum

3. a pic from a recent stay at The Lore Village, which was SO magical

4. a selfie with my recent hair switch to red tones