Category: Reflections

Libraries are playing a crucial role in the community. As a “palace for the people”, libraries are a place where people are welcome regardless of however they may identify, they have the ability and opportunity to be in society as a welcome participant (Stephens, 2022; Lauersen, 2020). Embraced as part of the library is the ability to foster lifelong learning, and the library is an extension of learning beyond the classroom whether or not an individual knows it or not. Libraries are seen as a place of knowledge, but there is rich knowledge beyond the books that are available at the library. Built into libraries are dynamic centers full of lifelong learning and resources beyond books and access to diverse environment of people (Stephens, 2014).

When libraries prioritize learning, it builds a holistic experience for its users. There are so many services that available to the public, however, I think that it is the informal learning that takes place that is essential to why these services are so powerful.

Due to libraries, learning has become a lot more accessible to everyone. As spaces for collaboration, physical and digital resources, and programs, the community can come to together to participate in the space (Nygren, 2014). At times, these services are primary sources of information for those that may not readily have access to these resources due to financial, technological, or even geographical limitations to name a few. This open access is often vital as there is so much power in connection, collaboration and development that takes place.

Currently in my library system, we had a cybersecurity breach and it forced things to shut down, specifically technology. We are still undergoing the effects of this, and there is still no access to technology. When I say technology, this means no computers, laptops, printing, or even proper access to our library catalogues. This has forced me to take a step back and see just how valuable those resources are. But this has also forced me to see how much learning can also take place without it.

While it sucks that there is no technology available, it has caused things to slow down. I think it is causing all library staff to look at the library in a different way. We are so used to combatting the effects of the digital and technology divide, with constantly helping and promoting digital literacy, and providing those skills needed to navigate the world of modern technology and keep up with the ever changing and evolving nature of technology and technology trends. While that is extremely valuable, and an important part of library services, I think now I am truly seeing the collaboration, creativity, and compassion coming through.

There has been a bunch of new ways to use the library through this forced shut down and limited services. I am seeing the library truly transition into a place where learning is often more than just about consuming information or using a service or resource; it’s about connecting, creating, and engaging with others. Often times, I see this happen during programs or events, but now it is becoming a daily recurrence. There is greater opportunities for people of various backgrounds and different interests to come together and share knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. I think as library staff, that is something we sometimes forget the importance of communication and how that builds into fostering the library experience. It is through that communication that so much learning can take place.

Communication can bring information sharing, support, connection, and help break down barriers (Dutta, 2020) . Being a space where open communication can be facilitated and encourages, so much collaboration and information can be shared, as well, library workers are able to navigate the needs of patrons better (Dutta, 2020). For example, in baby programs, by asking a simple question, I am able to facilitate and encourage moms to share tips and tricks that they have with parenting and/or parenting resources. Communication is crucial to the library, and it can help address any barriers that might be present in information, services, and skills that people need. Knowledge and learning is everywhere, and when combined with communication, individuals can feel empowered to pursue, and equip themselves with the skills they need whether it is through more formal avenues such as programs or events, or through informal learning such as talking with one another.

When libraries prioritize learning with clear, open, and accessible communication, they can nurture a environment that provides that holistic experience for all. Libraries can position themselves as learning spaces that can take on situations such as learning for all ages, digital and media literacy, supporting development for youth, workers, and education, and build a community that values lifelong learning (Nygren, 2014). Communication is the key that can help learning happen and let the library fulfill its role as not only a space for information but a place where that information can take an individual to new heights.

References

Dutta, A. (2020). Role of Communication Skills in Effective Management of Library and Information Centres. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351587761_Role_of_Communication_Skills_in_Effective_Management_of_Library_and_Information_Centres

Lauersen, C. (2020, June 24). Learning, culture, community and Diversity: New library strategy for roskilde libraries 2020 –. The Library Lab. https://christianlauersen.net/2020/06/23/learning-culture-community-and-diversity-new-library-strategy-for-roskilde-libraries-2020/ 

Nygren, Å. (2014). The public library as a community hub for connected learning.  https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1014/1/167-nygren-en.pdf

Stephens, M. (2014). Making the Case for the Library as Space for Infinite Learning. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4zt1yliwb2ffzr8euix2p/YLibraryInfiniteLearning.pdf?rlkey=m0v6lkd43ufilkp5aktawhlpr&e=1&dl=0

Stephens, M. (2022). Hyperlinked library master lectures 2022: The hyperlinked library participatory service & transparency [Course presentation]. School of Information, San Jose State University.  https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=2a19a4b6-e945-4d2e-abf1-aef3014172a5

There is often a lot of focus on the library and providing opportunities for its community and patrons, however it is important to recognize that these opportunities would not be made available without library staff. As libraries are growing and developing to be more dynamic learning centers, the staff are vital in providing and enhancing that experience and engagement for the community. I believe through providing professional learning experiences and utilizing the “library as classroom” model for staff, we can support library staff to grow and develop in their roles, and provide more diverse services and experiences to the public.

Right now, I cannot help but think about how the future of libraries is reliant not only on their resources but their adaptability and responsiveness to their community’s needs. Considering all the new technologies that are being implemented, the library needs to make sure it keeps up. The integration of virtual assistants, smart homes, artificial intelligence more, the library must navigate through the world of technology to ensure that library services are for the people.

The integration of technology in libraries is revolutionizing new horizons in early literacy. At a young age, technology is being introduced whether or not we are aware of it. Kelly (2019) states that while Alexa, the Amazon voice assistant “may not be the richest relationship in a child’s life but it is a presence that can be long lasting”. This puts into perspective just how much technology is being integrated into the lives of the young ones. The library must position themselves to utilize the technology tools available to them to foster the literacy skills and develop them beyond just books.

Libraries can create new horizons in early literacy when technology is embraced. I think that transition from quiet libraries to places where play is encouraged has changed the expectation of libraries (Jacobson, 2021). Its turned into a more well-rounded interactive learning environment, providing opportunities for children, parents, guardians, and patrons to grow together (Celano et al., 2018). With the plethora of tools available to patrons, including digital resources, the library is opening the door for many different experiences to be had not just in their libraries, but can be extended into their homes.

Digital resources, such as interactive e-books, books that read in different languages, and platforms for more interactive learning are available at a young age. Some programs are being offered digitally to further the reach. It is through these experiences and resources that the library is able to expand its reach. Digital technology can be effective and complementary to the experiences that a child experiences (Pearson, 2024). It is clear that these systems are being used at home, and being used in conjunction with library services builds further engagement in more enriching ways. It allows them to use what is familiar to them, such as the a voice assistant tool to create connections that can supplement daily practices of using technology.

I think throughout all of this, it is important to remember that these opportunities with technology help build new horizons. However, at the same time, it is important to take it with a grain of salt. I still believe that overarching these new horizons and opportunities, lies the importance of teaching the proper and equipping patrons with the correct tools to help them grow. Looking into the future, all the new technology and gadgets are important to consider as well as embrace their intersection of both early literacy and technology. I think this is a testament to libraries and how they are able to handle change. Libraries that are able to prioritize adaptability can not only survive the needs of the community but thrive.

Technology is a crucial part of the journey towards new horizons for libraries. It has the power to make libraries consider their ability to adapt and respond to these changes. The integration of technology into library services should be towards not only change, but what it means to the community and its place as a community resource. These tools allow libraries to create an environment that is interactive and dynamic and catered towards fostering the skills for early literacy and engagement. Overall, seeing where technology fits into the lives of people and the library is an important balance to discover. It is important that while libraries are exploring their digital resources and technology for new integrations into the services, the main mission is still intact.

References

Celano, D. C., Neuman, S. B., & Knapczyk, J. J. (2018). Public libraries harness the power of play. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/jul2018/public-libraries-harness-play

Jacobson, L. (2021, July 21). Library play spaces can help the transition back to in-person learning for youngest patrons. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/Library-play-spaces-can-help-the-transition-back-to-in-person-learning-for-youngest-patrons 

Kelly, S. M. (2018, October 17). Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/16/tech/alexa-child-development/index.html 

Pearson, N. (2024, April 15). Beyond abcs: Technology and early literacy. Edmonton Public Library. https://www.epl.ca/blogs/post/beyond-abcs-technology-and-early-literacy/#:~:text=Writing%20and%20Creativity%20Tools%3A%20Technology,engage%20in%20creative%20writing%20activities. 

ChatGPT has been taking the world by storm. The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) was always thought to be the future, but its here and it is changing how things are operating and working (Marr, 2023). Launched in November 2022, “ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot built on top of OpenAI’s foundational large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and its predecessors” and has “redefined the standards of artificial intelligence” (Marr, 2023). Therefore, ChatGPT is bringing new ways of staying connected with the community.

Fun fact, whenever I think of ChatGPT, it reminds me of the movie Wall-E (no idea why, I guess it’s the computer vibes for me). But ChatGPT is often accessed on the computer and has many uses, and the integration of ChatGPT into the library and staying connected has been huge. ChatGPT has been praised and contested that it is hard to tell whether or not it is a good thing. I see both the good and bad to it if I’m honest.

I was at a professional development training a couple months ago where they were focusing on the best ways to provide patrons their next best read. Something that I did not expect to come up was ChatGPT, but there it was. They were trying to show us ways of how to use it to provide book recommendations. Imagine a patron coming up to you asking about a book, but they are asking for similar books to a topic that you are not familiar with. Using the only historical war fiction book I know as an example, say this patrons asks you to search for historical war fictions similar to All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Doing a search in ChatGPT leads you to results and it is helpful to the patron. Of course, we can use other library resources such as Novellist to find book recommendations, but I was just shocked about a way to use ChatGPT in reference services to streamline information access.

This next example I have is something in my own life. I recently got engaged and we are starting to do some wedding planning. I was browsing some of the Reddit channels on wedding planning and I came across this post. People were using ChatGPT to help plan their weddings. I was shocked at this and wanted to try it out. I just tried put in “write me a wedding timeline that has a church ceremony at 1:00 pm and dinner starting at 6:00 pm”. The results were a great start and thought about things that I did not think about. I will say, I am not yet at this point in my wedding planning journey, but I wanted to try it out to see. This is one way that ChatGPT has made its way into the hyperlinked environments and here it is, yet again, being used as a tool.

So far, I have talked about some of the good, but here is one of the bad. There has been a lot of talk about how students have been using ChatGPT to complete assignments, as “roughly one-in-five teenagers who have heard of ChatGPT say they have used it to help them do their schoolwork” (Sidoti & Gottfried, 2023). However, students have been using ChatGPT to complete their assignments and generate full essays (Morrison, 2024). It has been founded that there are strengths and weaknesses to ChatGPT, in areas such as “information,” “reflection,” “analysis,” and “comparison,” however overall it can contribute to work that is considered to be low in academic standards (Morrison, 2024). This is where it is important to draw the line of how much ChatGPT should be used. It is important to remember that ChatGPT can cause issues as it uses statistical analysis, and there can be concerns of plagiarism and data privacy (Kent, 2023). However, ChatGPT can also help as it can create prompts that can be used as jumping points to help support and build the foundation of your work (Kent, 2023). This is where I think it is important to have stuff such as media and digital literacy classes to help support (Cox & Tzoc, 2023)

ChatGPT is useful, yet it is important that there are some boundaries in what is capable. Who knows what ChatGPT is able to accomplish in these next couple years? However, as of right now, ChatGPT is beneficial to organizations as it helps create a user-centric experience as it focuses on finding information that the community needs at that current moment. It helps build access to information, as well as foster connection and creativity (Cox & Tzoc, 2023). ChatGPT is a great tool to use in building and enhancing hyperlinked communities and in the library, however this is not to say that it is all we should use. It is always important to remember that there are some flaws that can be there. It is important to consider accuracy concerns, and the potential over-reliance of the technology (Cox & Tzoc, 2023). As well, it can be alienating for people who are affected by the digital divide (Cox & Tzoc, 2023). To be the most beneficial for hyperlinked communities and the library, the use of ChatGPT must be balanced, and balancing it alongside the human and people aspect of libraries can enhance and foster hyperlinked environments.
References

Cox, C., & Tzoc, E. (2023). ChatGPT: Implications for academic libraries. College & Research Libraries News, 84(3), 99. doi: https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.84.3.99

Kent, J. (2023, September 6). Should I use ChatGPT to write my essays?. Harvard Summer School.  https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/should-i-use-chatgpt-to-write-my-essays/

Marr, B. (2023, May 19). A short history of ChatGPT: How we got where we are today. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/05/19/a-short-history-of-chatgpt-how-we-got-to-where-we-are-today/
Morrison, N. (2024, March 27). The tell-tale signs students are using ChatGPT to help write their essays. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2024/03/27/the-tell-tale-signs-students-are-using-chatgpt-to-help-write-their-essays/

[PossibleSuccess9566]. (2023). Have you used Chat GPT for any of your wedding planning?. [Online forum post]. Reddit.

Have you used Chat GPT for any of your wedding planning?
byu/PossibleSuccess9566 inweddingplanning

Sidoti, O., & Gottfried, J. (2023, November 16). About 1 in 5 U.S. teens who’ve heard of CHATGPT have used it for schoolwork. Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/16/about-1-in-5-us-teens-whove-heard-of-chatgpt-have-used-it-for-schoolwork/

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.