Isabel's Blog

Hello Everyone – As I exit this course, I can’t help but feel like I have gotten the “inside scoop” on librarianship. I am glad that I have learned all about reflective practices, hyperlinked libraries, participatory services, etc. As I enter the professional world, I am grateful to be able to bring unique knowledge of new practices into any workplace or field I end up with. Looking ahead, I am graduating in a few weeks. I have sent countless job applications for various library and information work types. So far, I have an interview scheduled for one! Due to my time and experience within this course and the greater SJSU…

Hello everyone! Wow – This semester seems to have flown by. I am using my Virtual Symposium to reflect on my learning experience throughout the course. I’ve done this by considering my critical thinking process and key takeaways from the major assignments of the course. Please click here to view my Virtual Symposium.  

The Idea Box is a small room inside the Oak Park Public Library that staff and community members transform into a new living exhibit month after month (Oak Park Public Library, n.d.). This is an interesting and participatory step beyond the typical “display” that public libraries and their patrons are familiar with. Many public libraries have harnessed the power of a striking display, whether to celebrate a national holiday, a heritage month, or work to honor a marginalized group (Maxwell, 2021). The Idea Box uses the same fundamental idea as a display but allows for more creativity, expression, and community involvement. With a dedicated space and community collaboration, Oak Park…

I am reflecting on Professional Learning Experiences in the library. When I think of my impending graduation in May, I can’t help but feel sad to think I will be without constant engagement with school. I have always been a school-lover. When I was young, I would look up and print out math homework sheets to do in addition to what I was assigned. It’s good that this school-loving nerd has chosen the perfect career path! I just attended All-Staff Day, a professional development training day for all library staff in my county. We were able to choose which training sessions to attend out of several choices. I went to…

I was reminded of something funny that happened to me recently when I was watching the lecture in the “Power of Stories” module and heard the question: “What’s your story?” I was entering a Zoom meeting for a group project where everyone was meeting each other for the first time. I had my camera on and a green screen of stock image scenery behind me. One of my group members said, “Isabel, what’s your background?” I thought to myself, ‘Oh gosh. What do I say!?’ I was about to start talking about myself as an introduction but then they clarified by saying, “I mean the picture.” It was a good…

Hello all, For my project, I am exploring telehealth in the library. I was inspired by this Pew Research report. I think implementing telehealth is a critical opportunity for libraries to improve their service to rural communities. For rural areas with less access to medical care, libraries are the perfect choice for providing time, space, and staff to facilitate telehealth appointments. Libraries are perfect candidates to provide this essential service, “Given the sensitive nature of telehealth, libraries’ commitment to user privacy is essential. To be clear, library patrons’ right to privacy is enshrined within the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights” (Tanzi, 2022, para 3). I created a presentation…

I will be reflecting on the New Models module. I really enjoyed reading and thinking about public libraries as a third space. Wood says, “The term [third space] refers to space that is separate from home and work where we seek conversation, neutral ground, and comfort in feeling connected” (2020, para 1). A few years ago, I vacationed in Spain, where I encountered a “plaza” everywhere I went. A plaza is a big open space in the middle of the city where people gather, meet up, sit, chat, eat, and whatever else. In the United States, I feel that there is a distinctive lack of a third space where people…

This week’s module on Hyperlinked libraries brought me back to researching information communities in INFO 200. I remember going through so many touch choices in figuring out which information community I wanted to focus on, because they all were so interesting. The library has a big role to play in creating and nurturing hyperlinked communities. I feel that one of the biggest takeaways from this course so far is that libraries are about people, not books! My library just hosted this Pokeswap event today for the Pokemon-interested kids to get together and do a little card trading. As librarians, we need to create and host events that will sometimes have…

A Brief Look into Transparency in the Library What is transparency in a library? The first step to achieving transparency in the library is to understand that times are changing. The days of quiet roped-off halls with dusty books are behind us. Looking ahead, libraries will be a place where people can create, connect, and grow. Information professionals must comprehend that the information demands of society are evolving, and if we want to remain a valuable asset, we must evolve too. To be transparent is to involve the public in decision-making, fill service gaps, and eliminate alienating policies. Involve the public Libraries will be best attuned to the publics’ wishes…

I will be reflecting on the Hyperlinked Library model, and one of the foundational readings. I currently work in a midsize public library that sees some jam-packed days. This morning, for example, I could barely push my book cart around in the children’s area because it was so crowded. I love seeing all the families, tutor/student duos, and everyone else enjoying the library as a place to get together. I often hear toddlers walking in holding hands with their guardians asking if their friend will be here today. What about the people who don’t use the library? As expressed in this week’s module – libraries are for everyone, not just…