I have been inspired by the large and small ways that libraries have continued to meet community needs and engage the public. As Pam Sandlian said, “the library is a space to encourage people to connect and be curious” (2013), and there have been many examples of ways that libraries are facilitating these opportunities for connection and curiosity. In Colorado, the Anythink Nature Library is a way to connect people to a place. The library can offer outdoor programming and hands-on learning, a one mile loop trail around the library, and a 140 acre trail system (Anythink Libraries, 2025). This reminds me of the model South San Francisco Public Library (SSFPL) did in collaboration with their Parks Department to create community spaces for movement, classes, and gathering. The building now holds a discovery room with a wide variety of tools to try and learn how to use, and also fitness rooms for Parks and Recreation programming (City of South San Francisco, n.d.). These examples of collaboration with other resources allows the library and other programs, like the parks department, to be a bridge to connect people to their community and other resources.
Dementia friendly space, as someone with a family member who is in memory care, can be incredibly isolating. I have spent a lot of time in the memory care unit, it can be a hard place to be. Patients can often feel scared because they don’t know where they are or yell for help. Having a space for caregivers to connect and build community is vital to their mental health and wellbeing. Brittany Noesworthy said in a Rogers TV segment, “It’s a space for everyone” (Rogers tv, 2025). People with dementia can obviously go to the library, but by creating this specific space for this population group, it is also actively inviting and welcoming people in.
A word that came to mind as a throughline in the resources shared for new models was “invitation”, the libraries are inviting their patrons to explore, play, and connect. Learning about Reading about Nicole Campolucci, a licensed clinical social worker at the Salt Lake City Public Library (SLCPL) (Harkins, 2023). At SLCPL they are creating a space where unhoused and patrons with psychosocial needs are being invited to connect to local resources not just by having literature out but by someone who can support people navigating these services. In a news segment about offerings at Massachusetts public libraries, noted that libraries are “thriving multi-service community centers” (Chronicle 5 WCVB, 2024). Libraries are meeting patrons where they are at, and addressing community needs.
A fun side note:
When Anythink Library reopened the library after Covid-19, they wanted to have offerings that delighted and surprised patrons (Diamond, 2026). They have EMF Readers in a ghost hunting kit, which has grown to 30 kits and have been very popular.
Liz Grewal with their new San Francisco Library card, while completing the San Francisco Crosstown Trail across the city.
References:
Anythink Libraries. (2025, May 1). Finding our place in nature: The vision behind Anythink’s Nature Library. https://www.anythinklibraries.org/news/finding-our-place-in-nature-the-vision-behind-anythinks-nature-library/
Chronicle 5 WCVB. (2024, June 18). Libraries are evolving into community centers with multi-services [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCvR7P42MKA
City of South San Francisco. (n.d.). Library | Parks and Recreation Center. https://www.ssfca.gov/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Library-Parks-and-Recreation-Center
Diamond, S. (2026, June 27). Come for the books, stay for the power tools. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/arts/library-of-things.html
Harkins, P. (2023, June 20). Salt Lake City downtown library’s new social worker has already helped thousands. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/06/20/salt-lake-city-downtown-librarys/
Rogers tv. (2025, November 11). Corner Brook Public Library creates dementia friendly space [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0T4H0uKwME
TEDx Talks. (2013, December 16). What to expect from libraries in the 21st century: Pam Sandlian Smith at TEDxMileHigh [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa6ERdxyYdo
Hi Liz,
As I learn more about Libraries of Things, it was surprising to see that several of the ones I’ve looked at have ghost hunting kits in their collections–apparently, they’re popular requests from patrons!
Iris
Liz – I appreciate your ruminations on the use of the word invitation and how it seems to be a prominent theme in recent innovations in libraries. Also yay for your new card!