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There are a lot of ways in which libraries can help people, but even more importantly, they provide a place to “pursue happiness.” How cool would it be to have a safe space to hang out with friends? I remember feeling like I could use a space to go away from home sometimes. The teen space at the Monroe County Library (Monroe County Library, 2019) really made me think about this. I also feel like my middle school students are often seeking spaces for themselves and ways to express themselves. The library can create that space for them.
I also found it very interesting that I just finished the fiction book Happier Here with You, which has themes of family and connection. It also discussed hygge, describing it as more than just “coziness,” but a feeling someone gets in a place. The library should elicit that feeling. It should encourage the same ideas of connection that the book does, including connections with history and helping when a community member is in need.
The story of the boy and the puppet show in Pam Sandlian Smith’s TEDxMileHigh talk really resonated with me because we might not know what people are going through, but with kindness and openness, we will make a difference. One yes can change someone’s life. Libraries need to listen to their patrons because they have great ideas that reveal needs within a community and show how willing people are to help.
One question I kept thinking about throughout the module was how libraries can provide all of the services that communities need. There were numerous videos highlighting the various ways libraries are helping people. The video about providing dementia resources reminded me that many library branches operate within a larger system, which can be a real advantage when offering specialized services across an entire region. It made me realize that communication between libraries is just as important as communication with the community.
Social infrastructure is hugely important to a functioning community. I agree that we need leaders who can see that schools and libraries contribute to the overall well-being of people within each community (Gaetani, 2018). As a teacher, I really appreciate how libraries are now providing spaces for multiple types of learning. Many people need to be able to talk and do in order to learn. Sometimes I feel like this goes too far in our jam-packed classrooms, and I am unable to provide all of the needed learning spaces. Having a quiet space is still just as important. I am glad libraries are providing a variety of learning environments. I also like the idea that a library can be a place to create, not just a place to learn.
References
Gaetani, M. (2018). Libraries and social infrastructure. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2018/10/libraries-social-infrastructure/
Monroe County Library. (2019, August 29). Teen space: Ground floor [Video]. YouTube.
Smith, P. S. (2016, September). The human library: Creating places people love [TEDx Talk]. TEDxMileHigh. https://www.ted.com/tedx
Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted librarianship: Finding hope, inspiration, and balance. ALA Editions.
Hi Jana! I really enjoyed reading your blog post and it gave me a lot to think about. The story of the boy and his puppet show was so heartwarming and I appreciate your thoughts on how, with kindness and openness, we can make a difference. Your post reinforced my growing understanding of the library as a part of a larger whole. Libraries can do a lot of good with partnerships, whether with other library branches or other community organizations. Thanks for sharing!
Jana – The question you pondered while going through the module and writing this post is a good one. I would argue that one way forward is through partnerships with the community and engaging with library users who may have skills and knowledge that they could utilize to offer various types of programming, etc. This is an example of community-led services.