Image of me next to my book display for sneakers
For this week’s reflection blog post, I recently did a cool project for a book display theme on sneakers. As an avid sneakerhead, it was something I wanted to share my passion with the community I serve and it is experiences like this that makes working at a library unique. Having come from a design background, I approached this project by consolidating anything sneaker related from shoelaces to 3D prints, and of course, sneaker books. It was important to check out books that were within the county because city libraries were restricted.
Yet at the same time, this unfortunately limited the amount of variation to display sneaker related books I wanted to highlight. It is a minor issue I encountered because the county I work at (San Mateo County) operates as a separate entity to independent library cities such as San Carlos or Redwood Cities (Rusch, 2024). This meant that books that didn’t belong from the county and were from the city meant that I couldn’t use them for book displays. However, the county operates through the Peninsula Library System, as patrons can check in // check out library related content from libraries within the region from South San Francisco to even community colleges in San Mateo County (Peninsula Library System). For example, a San Mateo County Library card can be used to check out a Nintendo Switch game in the South San Francisco Library. While it is super cool that this is featured, in my experience, many patrons who want to get a new library card don’t know how accessible PLS is due to the confusion of what libraries are associated with which. My solution is whenever I register patrons with a new library card, I give them a pamphlet that shows a map of all the libraries that are being served as well as the resources and things you could do with their library card.
From a services approach, in Memphis, The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library has a recording studio where you can learn musical instruments, record a song in a studio, and learn photography (Grant, 2021). Similar to patrons that I serve in my community that don’t know the accessibility of other libraries and resources that they could visit and take advantage of, in 2017, Keenon McCloy (Library Director) decided to rebrand the public library system and innovate by utilizing it as a creative space at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. (Grant, 2021). Additionally, in the article, McCloy wanted to reach out to Doug Carpenter (who ran his own marketing firm) and Carpenter was impressed with the range of services and programs offered, but he noticed that most people didn’t know about the imaginary, creative capabilities that libraries can bring (Grant, 2021). It got to a point where they had to educate patrons to view libraries in a different light because many assumed that it was just a place that holds books and other materials to check out and borrow (Grant, 2021).
Within other libraries across the world, the biggest takeaway is the importance of making visitations from other neighborhood libraries more definitive so more patrons can take advantage of the resources that are accessible, not just stopping by at their local library. Libraries can host events for storytime or something innovative like STEM research or learning how to budget during this economic duress. Yes, libraries have their place to check out hotspots, check out Nintendo Switch games, and use the 3D printer. With the innovation and creativity that Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library has to offer, San Mateo County Library is infinite with opportunities and resources and there is no bias in that.
Aside from the lack of sneaker books I wanted to display, this was a cool project to participate in and I am thankful for the encouragement within the staff that supported me in this endeavor, as well as ideas! More than anything, I hope this inspires the community to become sneakerheads, no matter the branding or colors, just like how we should all treat people with respect and integrity. Overall as library champions, I had to learn the hard way that some stuff was restricted from city libraries, but at the same time, understand the importance of bringing awareness to it for the future and spreading the word to others that libraries are bigger than one!
References
Grant, R. (2021, November). How Memphis Created the Nation’s Most Innovative Public Library. Smithsonian. Retrieved March 06, 2025 from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3g4juvioz86g1m2uj529i/How-Memphis-Created-the-Nation-s-Most-Innovative-Public-Library-Innovation-Smithsonian-Magazine.pdf?rlkey=25yzrxk37civvks7bg6hwaafs&e=1&dl=0
Locations. (n.d). San Mateo County Libraries. Retrieved March 06, 2025 from https://smcl.bibliocommons.com/v2/locations
Non-SMCL Libraries. (n.d). San Mateo County Libraries. Retrieved March 06, 2025 from https://smcl.org/non-smcl-libraries/?%2A1g97sc7%2A_ga%2AMTYwOTExOTgwMi4xNzM4MDQ2OTc2%2A_ga_G99DMMNG39%2AMTc0MTI5Mjk1MS4xMS4xLjE3NDEyOTMwMTEuMC4wLjA.%2A_ga_C65HB4ZH63%2AMTc0MTI5Mjk1MS4xMS4xLjE3NDEyOTMwMTEuMC4wLjA.
Peninsula Library System – Your Library. Always Open (n.d). Peninsula Library System. Retrieved March 06, 2025 from https://plsinfo.org/
Rusch, H. (2024, March 04). Budget cuts could affect San Mateo County library programs. The Daily Journal. Retrieved March 06, 2025 from https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/budget-cuts-could-affect-san-mateo-county-library-programs/article_90472050-da0b-11ee-9967-3f7c28105ac6.html#:~:text=Thirteen%20libraries%20%E2%80%94%20like%20Woodside%2C%20San%20Carlos,County%2C%20whereas%20other%20libraries%2C%20like%20Redwood%20City
@hunchocaaado I like the Sneakers Book Display! Thank for sharing that pic and your ideas from the module that inspired you.