What I found most interesting in the readings for this module is that, even with the growing focus on technology and innovation, learning still depends a lot on environment and human connection. Even though we usually think of learning as happening in a classroom or a library, it can actually happen anywhere. As library professionals, we need to create different kinds of learning opportunities so people can follow their curiosity and learn in ways that work best for them (Stephens, 2014). In this way, the library can be more than a place to find information—it can also be a classroom without fixed walls.

One example of new learning opportunities in libraries is STEM programs and partnerships (Breeding, 2019). To support youth STEM education, some libraries are offering programs outside of the library building, like mobile labs and partnerships with schools. By bringing services into other spaces, libraries can meet students where they are and give them access to learning they might not otherwise have. This shows how libraries can have a bigger impact by bringing learning into the community instead of waiting for people to come to the library.

Another important idea from the readings is the development of soft skills like collaboration and problem-solving. Even in a world where AI can help with some thinking and information tasks, it is still important to know how to work with other people. Whether through digital emotional intelligence (Park, 2016) or collaboration-based learning (Lippincott, 2015), learning is not just about gaining information or technical skills. It is also about learning how to communicate, solve problems, work with others, and adjust to new situations.

This is where I see the idea of infinite learning connecting to the library as a classroom. A classroom does not need four walls, desks, or a teacher at the front of the room. Libraries can create spaces where people are always learning through programs, technology, collaboration, hands-on activities, and access to information. As technology and community needs change, libraries can also change how they support learning. Infinite learning is not just about always being in a class—it is about having the tools, spaces, and support to keep learning throughout life. The library is in a strong position to support this because it can act as both a physical and digital classroom that meets people where they are in their learning journey.

References

Breeding, M. (2019). Public Libraries are Teaming Up to Prepare Middle Schoolers for 21st Century Careers.

Lippincott, J. (2015). The Future for Teaching and Learning.

Park, Y. (2016). 8 digital skills we must teach our children.

Stephens, M. (2014). Making The Case for the Library as a Space for Infinite learning

Artificial Intelligence has been a hot topic for some time, and I’m glad that some of our modules have covered it. Although I have my personal opinions on it, one of the articles in our New Horizons module looked at language learning models from an information literacy perspective from Bryant University.

The university library doesn’t take any stance on being pro or anti AI. They focus more on how language learning models can act as a jumping off point for research. One of the points they mention is using AI to determine key words to use when making research inquiries and gathering information on summarized perspectives on any given topic. I am glad that they do still emphasize that anything a language learning model is not a direct substitute for human writing, as well as point out that this type of platform isn’t truly free- users are actively contributing to its development and submitting data to improve the model in exchange for access.

The CSU system, on the other hand, has an active (and recently renewed) contract with OpenAI. This multimillion-dollar contract provides a higher education version of ChatGPT to CSU students, staff, and faculty. It’s intended to provide cutting edge technologies to the university system’s population, but I personally haven’t seen much of a change in my courses. If anyone has seen a significant change during their courses or how they approach research as a result of this contract, I definitely would like to know.

AI is definitely an increasingly important technology to watch out for in present day, and it will be interesting to see how it impacts libraries and information spaces.

Reference

ChatGPT: A Library Perspective. https://library.bryant.edu/chatgpt-library-perspective. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Rix, Kate. “California State University Renews Controversial Systemwide Contract with OpenAI.” EdSource, 21 May 2026, https://edsource.org/2026/cal-state-renews-controversial-system-wide-contract-with-openai/758919.

For this reflection I read more into smart home devices. While my household hasn’t bought into a smart home device, I can see why some families opt into it. There’s a level on convenience to it that can help some free up space in their mind for more important things. Amazon Alexa even lets you add things to your cart on voice commands, making it easier to shop for things you need (Terdiman, 2018). Despite these conveniences, there is still concern with allowing a voice activated device into your home. There have been instances of privacy violations where devices have been recording users and sending reports to Google by default (Russakovskii, 2017). Although there were hotfixes issued and features disabled, it’s still concerning to me that a product went live with that issue in the first place.

Another aspect of smart home devices that concerns me is the relationships young children have with these personified devices. One of the articles I read, “Growing up with Alexa”, discussed how children who begin interacting with these devices at a young age start to develop a type of bond with it, almost like a childhood toy. The author goes on to explain that the resulting relationship places the device in between animate and inanimate- to me, it sounded like a relationship with an imaginary friend. I imagine this severely impacts childhood development and how children in the future will learn how to converse with others.

I think both issues are of concern for librarians and anyone in the information science space. Data privacy is becoming a big issue for the general public and providing resources that make our community aware of how to manage our data with the technology we use every day should be a priority. Additionally, providing youth programming that allows children to learn social skills outside of an Alexa would help mitigate these issues to the best of our professional abilities.

References

Daniel Terdiman. (2018, January 5). Here’s How People Say Google Home And Alexa Impact Their Lives. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/40513721/heres-how-people-say-google-home-and-alexa-impact-their-lives

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

Russakovskii, A. (2017, October 10). Google is permanently nerfing all Home Minis because mine spied on everything I said 24/7 [Update x2]. Android Police. https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/10/10/google-nerfing-home-minis-mine-spied-everything-said-247/

For this blog post I focused on the hyperlinked environments in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (aka GLAM) space. As spaces that increasingly desire to involve the community as much as possible, one of the major ways that institutions do this is through their social media.

Social media can allow many GLAM institutions to connect with a wider scope of audiences outside of their direct community. One of my favorite GLAM social media accounts is the Getty’s. They have an astrology series where they post at the start of every zodiac season. They utilize a popular topic (astrology) and use it as a means to connect objects in their collection to the topic. For example, this post is dedicated to Leo season, which begins July 23rd to August 22nd; they include several lion related elements from their collections on the post and cite each one for reference. This strategy mirrors the one the Met uses where they tie in their collection and base their social media on the interests of the general public (Titlow, 2016). I think that following social media trends and topics can help GLAM institutions encourage engagement on their accounts, which hopefully translate to more active patrons or visitors.

One thing that was highlighted in these articles was the need to stay digitally relevant and maintaining a significant presence online. Although some people may doubt that some visitors are truly appreciating the art they post on Instagram, it does positively reflect attendance numbers to a number of institutions (Daily Bruin Staff, 2016). Hopefully some can look through the superficiality of posting about an exhibit and instead meaningfully engage with it.

References

Daily Bruin Staff. (2016, January 20). The impact of social media on museums, art. Daily Bruin. https://dailybruin.com/2016/01/20/the-impact-of-social-media-on-museums-art

Getty Museum [@gettymuseum]. (2026, July 23). Happy Leo season! [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbJxDObj34k/

Titlow, J. P. (2016, February 29). How A 145-Year-Old Art Museum Stays Relevant In The Smartphone Age. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/3057236/how-a-145-year-old-art-museum-stays-relevant-in-the-smartphone-age

This module on Hyperlinked Communities talked about fostering and creating connections within your community to encourage people to view the library as a facilitator of discussion, community, and resource sharing. One of the articles talked about the influence of BookTok on libraries and bookstores in general and provided some great insight on connecting with patrons in order to anticipate and plan for new acquisitions and curation. For example, librarians have noticed more students have started going to the library to read books that have recently gone viral (Jensen, 2022).

I think social media has been a real boon for libraries, at least in my corner of the Internet. I personally have not been super active in the BookTok space, but I have read several books because they were trending or recommended by a book influencer that I follow. I haven’t been super disappointed with any of those reads yet, but that may be because I’m pretty picky with what I choose to read.

Social media in general has allowed libraries to engage with audiences in new ways. One cool TikTok I’d like to share with you all is one from LAPL where their map librarian showcased one of the oldest maps in the library’s collection. It is one of their most popular videos on the account, and I think it spoke to people’s curiosities of LA history, archives, and education on niche content. Archived maps aren’t something that the average library patron will likely seek out, but knowing that is a part of library holdings can make one curious about what other types of local history and programs that the library can offer to further expand their educational horizons.

Another method of accessibility and reach in one of the readings are bookmobiles, which provide library materials at new locations that a standard library may not be able to provide (Lauersen, 2025). Bookmobiles are great at providing accessibility and proximity to library services for rural areas as well as those with large populations who would otherwise struggle to travel to the library. The bookmobile not only provides materials but also expertise from knowledgeable library staff on materials and other library services.

It reminded me of a game I recently played called Tiny Bookshop, which is essentially a bookmobile. You play as a mobile bookstore owner who has recently moved to your late grandmother’s seaside village. Once you open shop, you interact with the townspeople and recommend them books based on their genre preferences and other requests. One thing that’s emphasized more than the financial aspect of running the bookstore is the growing relationships you have between yourself and the townspeople as you become more involved in the community. It’s a great example of what a hyperlinked library would look like in rural areas that would otherwise be library-less; the townspeople can get the materials they need while the player becomes a facilitator of community.

References

Los Angeles Public Library [@lapubliclibrary]. (2024, July 9). It’s one of our oldest maps and favorite places! Raise your hand if you’ve been to Olvera Street #losangelespubliclibrary [Video]. Tiktok. https://www.tiktok.com/@lapubliclibrary/video/7389776363164585246