Hello Everyone! Here is my report on the “Single Point Service” model for libraries. I chose this topic because, working in a public library, I see the disparities of patrons having to wait and how circulation and reference service desks deal with two different types of questions, but reference service is always being hit the hardest. I believe that adopting this model would help both areas and create a better flow of helping patrons in libraries and better for libraries in the future.
The act of talking creates stories, and stories are something that can be a small conversation, recorded, or even written down. Still, the act of talking to someone sheds the spark of being vocal to another person, which is such a different vibe from anything else. As both parties are in the act of speaking, it can be truly something to comprehend, and it almost becomes a trance for some because of how intrigued or whatever the expression that the person is feeling at this time is. This brings attention to how libraries come to express themselves with stories that can be brought into their establishment. Staff and patrons are always in the act of conversing for questions to be asked and answered, but never to share stories. The act of sharing can be sacred for many people, for personal reasons or just because it is not meant for sharing. It is something we all have thought about, but for others, sharing can create a spark for something bigger.
The human library is such an interesting program that libraries have adopted. It is a program that has created an insightful approach to creating stories about strangers in the world of libraries. Reading through Public Libraries Online, Wentz talks about how human libraries work and explains to the readers that by attending, they create the action of sharing stories. As the program does, “readers are able to ask questions, seek advice, learn about alternative perspectives, and find common ground.” (Wentz, 2013)This speaks volumes because, as an individual that works in the public library, people from all walks of life come into the library to carry on about their business, and occasionally patrons would always come ask for help to find something, but that’s pretty much where it ends. I believe that pushing the human library experience in my library would create a different outcome and really start to learn about others because of our diverse users that come into the library. I used to tell my friends that when you meet new people, being able to try to find common ground for both parties is always the best way to talk, and all these things will create stories in everyone’s lives.
References
Wentz, E. (2013, April 26). The Human Library: Sharing the Community with Itself. Public Libraries Online. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/human_librar/
As libraries offer different types of models for all groups, sometimes it works for certain groups, but sometimes it doesn’t work for everyone. At times when it doesn’t work, they have to look for alternatives to find that sweet spot to satisfy their needs or find their purpose. I believe that programs in libraries are great for grabbing attention from all age groups. As my restaurant background is always around me, I am constantly asked for tips and advice for cooking, it’s just more than cooking, in my opinion. Understanding what food is is just more than food itself. Most people would undermine who we get our groceries from and at the supermarket, but it takes so much work between growing and buying at the market. There is so much at stake when growing food because it’s people’s livelihood to produce, and it always hits me when I go to a nice restaurant and just cherish what is on my plate. One of the biggest takeaways is food literacy. Understanding food literacy can make others look carefully and cherish what is being used and how it is always prepared.
As libraries have different programs regarding food literacy, it is so important to share the knowledge and showcase what it means when talking about health and wellness. Libraries like the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Kitchener Public Library are showcasing their programs that bring joy to the communities they represent. Ewen, “A Movable Feast,” which showcases their partnership with the Camden County Library System and Free Library of Philadelphia to have a mobile kitchen where they can have demonstrations and learn about healthy food practices and also towards food protection training as well. As the city of Camden is considered a food desert, there are more stores than food markets, and some rely on bodegas for food (Ewen, 2018). Another model that can be used in the library is learning about culture through food. Kitchener Public Library, partnered with Underground Flavour Group (UFG), talks about and shows different cultures through food.
Through the partnership with Kitchener and UFG, it is important to showcase different cultures for patrons who are interested in food from other cultures. Looking through the diversity in libraries that share food cultures is a great way to understand culture without stepping out of the country or even out of the city. This program not only hosts chefs who cook food from their ethnic groups but also serves as a hub for the community. Shirley Luu, with the KPL, said, “Libraries today are more than just a place to borrow books. Libraries have become a hub for the community; connecting with different programs and partnering with the UFG just made sense.” (CBC, 2021). As I always said to my friends or people I have met in life, “Food is a universal language that speaks volumes.”
Looking at models for the libraries, talking about food and food literacy is important for the groups that are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. They can use these programs to learn and also really think about how they can be a lifeline for them in the future. When they get older, they can cook and understand how to eat to benefit their livelihoods and also to learn about other cultures through food. I believe it is one of the best ways to learn, as is finding others to learn with too.
References
CBC. (2021, December 28). How a restaurant-library partnership made food and culture accessible. CBC. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/underground-flavour-group-and-kpl-1.6294810?fbclid=IwAR1E-wMqgXKv6R9LMcP1O8LTTzAZTNNUgH5GEI8DiNAgrRdpCUlTBeTJ4Es
Ewen, L. (2018, September 4). A Movable Feast. American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/09/04/movable-feast-library-mobile-kitchens/
S, M. (2014, June 2). Come See What’s Cooking: Announcing Our New Culinary Literacy Center! Wikipedia. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/2006
Hello, colleagues! For my roadmap, I decided to make a program that deals with the “Farm to Table” concept in a library setting. Ever since working in restaurants, the quality of ingredients has had to be perfect and in season. I wanted to incorporate this concept as most libraries have “Lunch in the Library” as well. I think it would also be a great fit and important for food security, health, and wellness. Below is the link for my roadmap! Thank you!
As we look into international libraries, the issue that has always been ongoing because of global conflicts is refugees. Throughout mankind, conflicts have always created refugees, from one person to a population from one nation. Global conflicts always end in a lose-lose situation because of the monstrosity of damage caused by the physical and emotional disconnect between nations. Between the emotional damage between nations, refugees are in the middle of finding the most basic necessities, but the migration to another nation is the hardest journey of all. As we relate to global libraries, refugees are slowly migrating to different countries by land and sea. As countries have taken notice of refugees starting to show up in their country, some have negative thoughts due to a number of reasons, but some countries are accepting the realization that it is the right thing to do.
Through the waves of refugees seen on the news, they have been trying to survive when trying to enter another country; unfortunately, there are rules and regulations about it, but some countries have been opening their doors for refugees, giving them hope and a sense of newly found freedom. As countries are trying to help refugees settle, a group or a nation can feel homesick due to their original homeland being taken over or deemed unsafe. Their culture has been taken away from them, but the European Bureau of Library, Information, and Documentation (EBLIDA) has created resources for refugees to help them restart and create a new life or lives in the new country that they call home now. What helped me resonate with why libraries are such an important asset for humanity is how one can gather and help one or a nation when help is needed. There is a quote that brings out the democracy in countries.
“EBLIDA believes that libraries all over Europe should act as a platform for democratic and open-minded values, and be a safe place where social inclusiveness for all is a priority.” (Pyatetsky, 2015)
Libraries in Europe have adopted different ways to help with creating a new sense of identity and also to help rebuild their culture by visiting libraries, which hold an ample amount of information and also hold workshops for all age groups to succeed in their new lives. Through the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, it is amazing to see different European countries resolve the issues of incoming refugees. These countries’ libraries have created different types of programs and outreach opportunities for all ages, and this proves that there is a universal understanding of helping each other in need, and that’s what makes humanity worth fighting for.
References
Ptacek, B. (2016, October 10). The library is not a place, it’s a concept. | Bill Ptacek | TEDxCalgary. YouTube. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES0zGUvZj5s
Pyatetsky, J. (2015, November 24). Refugees Supported by Public Libraries in Europe. Public Libraries Online. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2015/11/refugees-supported-by-public-libraries-in-europe/
Responding! Public Libraries and Refugees, IFLA. (2015). IFLA. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://www.ifla.org/publications/responding-public-libraries-and-refugees/
At times, in the library where I currently work, staff and patrons would ask me, Which section is your favorite in the library? I would tell them that it is so hard because there are 2-3 sections I like, but there is always one that is true to my heart. The section would be non-fiction, but more specifically, the cookbooks. As some of you might have read, I used to work in the restaurant industry, which is by far one of the hardest jobs that I have held, but I would say the best time too, minus the stressful nights. Looking through cookbooks sometimes just doesn’t do justice when it comes to cooking. Cooking is such an intimate time to have. Whether you are learning something new, impressing friends, or cooking for pure joy, it is something that you can’t replace. Freeman’s article, Cooking in the Library, talks about the importance of how cookbooks are more than just to cook; they are also to learn about nutrition, culture, and the movement of food in libraries. She states, “Cookbooks were the first item related to culinary, nutrition, and food literacy added to the library collections.” (Freeman, 2022, p. 97)
Looking at the hyperlinked library, there is so much information that it would take many lifetimes to learn and understand each perspective. When talking about the idea of food in the library, there are several options to approach when working with patrons and, most importantly, children. As children are the pickiest eaters, teaching them through food programs would reinforce their mindset and hopefully open them to trying to find foods that they might like at first and gradually build on. One of the most important things about food is understanding what food literacy is. Eric Schofield, Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia, talks about food literacy and breaks down why it is so important to learn, especially for at-risk youth in high school. Since they are at their most vulnerable, it is difficult to educate them because of their temperance, and the idea of health is boring. Now, my love of cooking has stemmed through my childhood and into the present, but food is universal to understand, and creating or understanding food literacy by learning in the library can shape a better life for everyone.
References
Freeman, R. (2022) Cooking in the Library. Dublin Gastronomy Symposium., Session 9: Food and Food Education as Public Values. https://doi.org/10.21427/0q5a-yg62
Food Literacy- Its about more than just reading labels: Eric Schofield
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj4kr64TIss
Human connection is the stem of participatory service Through academic and public libraries, it has been an integral part of how individuals can use library spaces as a safe haven for their personal lives. The actions of human connection can vary depending on how one uses their space. Since I am currently working in a public library, it attracts people from all walks of life. Although looking through the landscape of libraries, technology has integrated itself into the mainstream outlook in libraries now. As all libraries have both physical and digital resources that all groups can learn from and use, it still becomes an issue of the human connection. Looking through the article, “The New School Library: The Human Connection to Digital Resources and Academic Success,” brings up the question of how students interact with each other in libraries now that digital resources are in play. Or, “Are libraries necessary today? These questions have been embedded in today’s usage in libraries, both public and private academic libraries.
The actions of human connection are something that can’t be replicated by any digital resources. In the article, The New School Library brings up a quote:
“They are a place for personal growth and reinvention, a place for help in navigating the information age, a gathering place for civic and cultural engagement, and a trusted place for preserving culture.” (Abarbanel et al., 2013, p. 70).
This quote speaks volumes because of how using libraries brings out the participatory service that is needed to create that human connection through the process of utilizing programs and spaces created by the libraries. Going along with the idea of participatory service, Doug Johnson, director of media and technology at Mankato Area Public Schools in Mankato, Minnesota, expressed,
“We need to stop thinking of the library as a grocery store—a place to “get stuff”—and start thinking of it as a kitchen—a place to “make stuff.” (Johnson, 2013, p. 84).
As we look at libraries, Johnson’s perspective creates a new landscape where, instead of using the libraries for their basic necessities, the possibilities of integrating what libraries can offer can be endless because of the different resources that they provide. By doing this, it creates different spaces for individuals to use, and this will create a human connection amongst students and patrons alike.
Ronni Abergel, a journalist and social change activist, is the creator of this space called the “Human Library.” His goal was to create a space where anyone could come and speak to another patron. What makes it interesting is that Ronni is trying to normalize taboos and stigmas in this space. Taboos and stigmas are often looked down upon because of their lack of acceptance in the world, but Ronni has created a space for them. This is where the true nature of human connection comes into play, where two random patrons are paired up and they are able to talk about anything that comes. Both patrons can learn about each other and about their past or their taboo, which society doesn’t approve of.
When it comes to participatory service, libraries that have integrated digital and physical resources have created a new landscape for students and patrons to use as a safe haven or a space for students or patrons to come together and collaborate amongst each other. Following the participatory service, what comes out of the service is the human connection that is created by the library as the setting. What follows next are the programs that give them the space to interact with each other, and that’s where the human connection is achieved by interacting with students or patrons alike to create a relationship between two individuals to learn about each other.
References
Abarbanel, E., Davis, S., Hand, D., & Wittmer, M. (2013). The New School Library. Independent School, 72(4), 68–74.
Creating the Human Library:Fighting taboos & stigma through dialogue | Ronni Abergel | TEDxBucharest. (2018, March 22). YouTube. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZmEqksaEVU
Johnson, D. (2013). The New School Library. Educational Leadership, 71(2), 84–85.
Hello everyone!
Welcome to my page! My name is Maverick Ng. This is my second year of the MLIS program, and I look forward to meeting and reading all the blogs here. I currently reside in the Bay Area, California. I attended Cal State East Bay for my undergrad. I majored in history with a concentration in East Asia and Middle East studies. Before starting my master’s,. I have been in the restaurant industry for about 4-5 years. I worked at a couple of high-end restaurants before I left and pursued another career.
The most notable restaurant where I interned or worked was Chez Panisse in Berkeley. I had a lot of fun there. I have met a lot of notable chefs from there. I have met Alice Waters and Samin Nosrat. The reason I left the restaurant industry was the overstepping and the toxic work environment in which we were all surrounded. I decided to leave for my sanity and to just look out for myself too. After I left, I found this and never thought I would go back and try to get my masters.
When I have some down time, or hopefully finish this program, I can go back to my hobbies. I tend to have a lot of hobbies, which consist of fishing, leathercrafting, gardening, tinkering, and much, much more! The number one thing that I still love is cooking. I love looking at recipes, taking a quick glance, and then tossing them away. It’s pretty funny for some, but its fun because I can recreate it how I like it. I think that is the beauty of cooking—adding touches and changing things around. Feel free to ask me any questions about cooking, too!
Samin Nosrat and I, @Chez Panisse
The great Alice Waters and I, @Chez Panisse