Hyperlinked libraries are more important now than ever before. As the demands of the society and technology are shifting, libraries must continually adapt to accommodate these changes. Libraries must shift from just books to a world where creativity can be fostered.
I wanted to take a different approach with this blog post and actually consider what the challenges are to hyperlinked communities. This hyperlinked model is essential to how libraries are structured now, but it is important to know that there are flaws. How can we improve if we don’t take a look and see what needs to change? There are still challenges and restrictions that come with trying to enhance connectivity, collaboration and inclusivity. Hyperlinked communities are complex and it is important to consider them to see how we can help.
Digital Divide
Crucial to hyperlinked communities is the technologies that are being utilized, and with those technologies comes varying levels of knowledge, access and capabilities. Technology is no longer an add-on, it’s a necessity (Stephens, 2019). This is where the library can come in, we have a role in providing access and bridging the gaps that are present as these constraints can limit a persons ability to access information and participate in digital community spaces and use technologies. A great example of this is how the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (PLIP) project connected expectant mothers to health resources that brought them closer to resources and information that they would not have access to (Baute, 2013). But this is also where it gets tricky. In order to provide these technologies, the library has to invest money into obtaining all the technologies, the licensing and the services to allow individuals the access. As most of these services are provided for free in the library, there must be a lot of time, effort, and money invested in these services. Staff must be considered, with factors such as staff time spent teaching, learning, educating, troubleshooting, as well as compensation for all of these factors. The investment that goes into selecting and setting these technologies, and ensuring that staff know how to use them so that people can access them and staff can help with that. Technology software is important to consider as things need to be updated in order to use it properly and efficiently. Libraries play a large role in helping with the digital divide, but due to this role it enhances a library users’ participation in hyperlinked communities
Overload and Engagement
Information is constantly flowing and with the help of devices, we are able to access information so quickly we could blink and a whole story has happened. All of this information and access to diverse resources is a great tool to stay connected with everything going on, however it can also be daunting and misleading (Bhaskar, 2016). Information brings misinformation and difficulty, therefore, fake news must be combatted (Dar, 2021). The challenge itself is misinformation and libraries must consider that all the time, as they are taking on those complexities of accessing information and providing it to the people, aka the information literacy principles that users apply in their lives (Dar, 2021). By bringing in media literacy, especially at a young age, the opportunity help individuals build evaluation and critical thinking skills can foster at a young age. This encourages healthy hyperlinked communities as information is shared responsibly.
In hyperlinked libraries, it is also important to consider engagement. Engagement can happen in-person or online. Hyperlinked communities are a great way to connect to one other, but that connection, when it takes place online can be isolating (Rich, 2024). Remember COVID, when we were all stuck at home, that too can happen within hyperlinked communities (Rich, 2024). But these communities foster so much collaboration and creativity and engagement. Libraries can help as they foster the opportunities for both, by providing the community with space to provide this engagement (Pressreader Team, 2023). It is important to consider reach, and how that reach must encompass “a wide array of channels for interaction across virtual and physical planes” and what questions we should ask to address those limitations (Stephens, 2014, p. 41). It is important that libraries set up and consider their spaces and how they might need to adjust the space physically to ensure design considerations for all people and how space is optimized for connection, information access, and a space to be (Bomble, n.d.). By creating spaces and opportunities for both digital and physical interaction, community can be fostered within the library.
These are just some of the challenges that are must be considered when thinking of hyperlinked communities. However, the best part of obstacles, is that you can work to overcome them. Libraries are filled with so much potential in building engagement online and offline, providing information access, and through this connection, so much other factors can be influences such as creativity, collaboration, representation, and more.
References
Baute, N. (2013). How A modern library keeps mothers healthy in rural Ghana. EIFL. https://www.eifl.net/blogs/how-modern-library-keeps-mothers-healthy-rural-ghana
Bhaskar, M. (2016, September 30). In the age of the algorithm, the Human Gatekeeper Is Back. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/30/age-of-algorithm-human-gatekeeper
Bomble, A. (n.d.). Architect’s guide – how to design libraries. Kaarwan blogs. https://www.kaarwan.com/blog/architecture/architects-guide-how-to-design-libraries?id=103
Dar, M. (2021, March 15). To tell the truth: Public libraries in the fight against misinformation, disinformation. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/To-Tell-the-Truth-Public-Libraries-in-the-Fight-Against-Misinformation-Disinformation
PressReader Team. (2023, July 10). Unlocking potential: Utilizing library space for Community Engagement and recreation. PressReader. https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/unlocking-potential-library-space-for-community-engagement-and-recreation
Rich, H. (2024, February 5). Hungry for connection: Addressing loneliness through the library. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/hungry-for-connection-addressing-loneliness-through-the-library
Stephens, M. (2014). Scanning the Horizon. In The Heart of Librarianship (pp. 37-47). ALA Editions: Chicago.
Stephens, M. (2019) Being Human. In Wholehearted Librarianship (pp. 77-96). ALA Editions: Chicago.
@jemielyn I agree that teaching media literacy and how to spot misinformation is SO important in this tech/internet age that we live in. Most people now are on social media and take part in those apps every day usually, and there is SO much false information or biased information. It’s important to teach how to decipher through this information, so that everyone can remain properly informed and also can keep a unique frame of mind.
@jemielyn Yes and yes! I so appreciate this exploration of the challenges facing our communities and what we might do to support them.
And @inabookbind commented one something that has been irking me of late… misinformation is flowing freely across the social networks…wityh twitter being a particularly ugly offender. I hope we can balance this out via education etc. It is exhausting.