Author: Layla D.

Something that really stuck out to me in this module was the article on Embracing Messy Learning. Learning is rarely neat or linear and messy learning is part of the process. The library as a classroom is a place where questions rarely have one right answer.

The classroom and by extension the library is a place to safely grapple with ideas. It is a container for struggle and creation–a living ecosystem of trial, error, and discovery. “If I don’t allow learning to be messy, I eliminate authentic experiences for students as thinkers and creators” (Block). In learning, messiness is not a flaw. The library as a classroom invites us to be curious, to ask more questions, and invite a fluid learning environment.

The library as a both a source of information and a hub of the creation of knowledge is a crucial aspect of the library as a classroom. “One of these intrinsic values is that of library as the ‘people’s university’ – an open education resource or commons – or center for lifelong learning” (Stephens). The library is a site of learning and holds space for learning to be the messy process that it is. The role of librarians continues to evolve and shift alongside the evolution of the library as a classroom.

Something I know I have in common with the majority of my peers in the information field is that I love stories in all forms. I love music, television, books, historical narratives. Stories surround our lives, when we communicate with our loved ones we tell a story, when we imagine our futures we tell a story, when we engage in creative processes we tell a story.

At the school that I work at, there is a ‘mirrors and windows’ approach to teaching. Specifically in the library, we aim to make students feel seen and see others. A study on the impact of the Human Library showed that “being faced with another human being inspired them [participants] to reflect on their own biases and resulted in an increased sensitivity towards the diversity that exists beyond physical appearance” (Arne-Skidmore). Stories have the power to change worldviews and change attitudes. Stories shape our lives and our perspectives of them.

The library holds so much power in its housing and preservation of stories. The hyperlinked library is representative of how the institution of libraries can bridge the divide between people. The library should be a place in which people see their stories reflected back at them and have the opportunity to see others’ stories.

As in many fields, when considering the future of librarianship, Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings about a plethora of new questions. Impacts on the future of the information field are speculated on with a number of answers. Will librarianship become obsolete? Will the humanity of librarianship become more important than ever?

While speculating, we can always look to the past to offer parallels to our present. Take the debut of Wikipedia for example. As a crowdsourced spring of information, there is a lot of similarities to large language models like ChatGPT and its implications in the classroom. There was a panic in academic settings and libraries, then once the dust settled, we adapted. “Even the most strident critics eventually came around. Wikipedia gained recognition in campus libraries as a tertiary source, collections that summarize and repackage existing information” (Fister).

My reflection on this module is the general adage which states that there is nothing new under the sun. Just as Wikipedia posed new questions for the field to answer, so will tools like ChatGPT. Librarianship is not one single thing but a number of functions in flux. “There have been many disruptive technologies and always will be” (Papini). We can continue to turn to our communities to see reflected what works and what doesn’t, and adapt as is necessary.

Innovation Strategy and Roadmap by Layla Degani

For the module on hyperlinked environment, I chose to focus specifically on school libraries. As a school library assistant, I find myself at an intersection of tradition and transformation and find it important to understand how the field can transform in regards to the hyperlinked environment. Schools have operated within a relatively fixed framework, but there is a growing recognition that the world is changing and that education must follow. The traditional system is increasingly mismatched with the lives students are preparing to lead and educators should be called on to respond.

The Web and its accompanying technologies have shifted old boundaries, giving students unprecedented autonomy and access. In this new landscape, information is abundant. This means that the school library, once an arbiter of information, must revolutionize its role in student life.

Our role must evolve accordingly. Librarians are no longer just keepers of books but facilitators of change—collaborating with teachers, guiding students, and modeling lifelong learning. We are uniquely positioned to lead this reinvention in schools. Embracing change must become part of our core skill set. Education is not a fixed practice but a dynamic one.

To serve our communities well, we must resolve to think like patrons—not just providing resources, but truly understanding and responding to what people need in the present and in the future.

References:

https://www.slj.com/story/flip-this-library-school-libraries-need-a-revolution

https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/reinvented-school-libraries-unleash-student-creativity

https://medium.com/modern-learning/16-modern-realities-schools-and-parents-need-to-accept-now-64b98710e4e9#.h2ihabdc5

The hyperlinked community forms the theoretical basis for both the existence and thriving of the hyperlinked library. A hyperlinked community gives us the tools to build a more effective library environment, one that reaches more users, fulfills more community needs, and serves its base more effectively. Hyperlinked communities decentralize the way we can connect with one another; the library has the chance to be a guiding force in this evolution.

Hyperlinked communities enhance the accessibility of public libraries, they center connectedness and sharing. A hyperlinked community has a mutually beneficial relationship with the public library as it should inform its work with the community and vice versa.

While this urge toward integration and actionable engagement with the community has always existed to a certain extent within libraries, the technological advancements that have redefined interconnectedness create a sense of urgency within public libraries to evolve alongside technology in order to meet the community where it is at. Where there is an urgency for evolution and progress there will always be a portion of the institution that pushes against that, a portion that might try to protect the status quo. It is important for those who work at libraries to understand why this evolution is necessary in order to overcome this roadblock.

Our current technological and political environment urges us to move from behind the desk and into the community.

The Four Spaces Model for Public Libraries

Public libraries serve as more than repositories for books; they are vibrant community hubs that support learning, creativity, and social interaction. The Four Spaces Model, developed by Danish researchers Dorte Skot-Hansen, Henrik Jochumsen, and Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen, offers a conceptual framework that explains how libraries currently function and helps libraries adapt to changing societal needs. This model divides library functions into four interrelated spaces: the Inspiration Space, the Learning Space, the Meeting Space, and the Performative Space. The goal of the four spaces is to support the respective four goals for the future of the public library: experience, involvement, empowerment and innovation. By balancing these four areas, libraries can effectively serve their communities and remain relevant in the digital age.

The Inspiration Space focuses on the goal of experience. This space encourages curiosity, creativity, and cultural engagement. This area allows users to explore ideas, discover new interests, and be inspired by literature, art, and media. In this space users challenge perception and encourage patrons to move beyond familiar choices. It fosters a space for aesthetic experiences through story-telling and other artistic expressions within all media, culture patterns and genres.

The Learning Space focuses on the goals of experience and empowerment. The emphasis here is placed on education and the acquisition of knowledge. While libraries have always been associated with learning through books and research materials, this space has expanded to include digital literacy, lifelong learning, and skill development. This space caters to diverse learning styles and ensures that knowledge remains accessible to all members of the community, regardless of age or socioeconomic background.

The Meeting Space fosters social interaction, collaboration, and community engagement. Libraries serve as neutral, welcoming environments where people can connect, discuss ideas, and build relationships. This space includes study areas, group discussion rooms, and event venues where open events, book clubs, and cultural activities take place. Many libraries also partner with local organizations to host workshops or social services. By providing a space for dialogue and collaboration, libraries strengthen community ties and encourage civic participation.

The Performative Space evokes the goals of involvement and innovation. This is the space where individuals and groups can actively engage in cultural production and public expression. Unlike the Inspiration Space, which focuses on passive consumption of creative works, the Performative Space allows patrons to showcase their talents and participate in hands-on activities. Services like digital media labs enable users to create multimedia projects, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment in cultural expression.

A successful public library seamlessly integrates these four spaces to create a dynamic, multifunctional environment. The Four Spaces Model serves as both an analysis of the library’s actual activity as well as a valuable framework for the future of public libraries in contemporary society.

 

References

Jochumsen, Henrik & Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Casper & Skot-Hansen, Dorte. (2012). The four spaces
– A new model for the public library. New Library World. 113. 5-5. 10.1108/03074801211282948.

I am so looking forward to this course and the semester overall! I work part-time in a public library in Contra Costa County and part-time at a K-8 school library in San Francisco. I live in Oakland but my entire family is in southern CA so I make my way down often. I am a little sister, best friend, daughter, aunt and lifelong student and feel so much gratitude for those in my life who further my learning and invest in me! I spend most of my time reading, hiking, playing games, cooking and hanging out with my friends.

In celebration of the new year and reflecting on the last,

My favorite book I read in 2024 was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

My favorite TV show I watched in 2024 was Severance

and my favorite game I played in 2024 was Disco Elysium.