Month: October 2026

While going through the New Horizons module, I found myself impacted by Stephens’s statement that “trend spotting should be a core practice for information professionals” (Stephens, 2025, 0:49). This is something that I wholeheartedly agree with. As a public servant, I believe that keeping up with technological and social trends is a key component of public libraries staying relevant to the communities they serve.

As someone who has pursued higher education and still is, the social trends segment in the 2026 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning Edition struck a chord with me. This portion of the report discusses how the public’s opinion of higher education is declining due to high costs of tuition and uncertainty in the job market after graduation (Robert et al., 2026, p.8). Additionally, the report states that people have a lack of trust in the information they receive because of the introduction of AI. This made me ask the question: How can libraries support people in their pursuit of higher education and help them assess information in the age of AI? The report provides some examples that can be adapted for public and academic settings.

Regarding AI, the report presents a student-led AI symposium developed at the University of Utah, where the students design sessions based on AI literacy and set an agenda that faculty followed. The positive feedback led to a weekly AI Tinker Lab (Robert et al., 2026, p.9). Although the symposium is better suited for an academic setting, I believe that the AI Tinker Lab could easily be adopted in a public library environment. By implementing an AI Tinker Lab at a public library, the entire community—not just students—would have access to an AI literacy program that will help them gain skills for their personal and professional lives. This approach is picking up traction as the Public Library Association (PLA) and Microsoft partner together to provide accessible ways to educate the public on AI to help people make “knowledgeable, informed, and responsible decisions” (op de Beeck, 2026, para.13).

To address the decline in approval of higher education, the report presented the University of Denver’s 4D Peer Mentor program, which supports new college students as they adjust to their first time at a university (Robert et al., 2026, p.10). I believe that the “4D experience,” where students get to find a sense of belonging, focus on their well-being, grow intellectually, and discover a life of purpose, should start before they acquire debt (University of Denver, n.d., para. 2). If libraries partnered this experience with classes on scholarships, financial aid, and career counseling for teens, this could help mitigate the growing fear and apprehension about not only affording college, but also what to do before, during, and after college to increase a student’s chance of success (Queens Public Library, n.d.).

Throughout this module, I learned that emerging technology can be intimidating for information professionals and the people that we serve. However, if we continue to “focus on the people, not just tech” (Stephens, 2025, 5:46), we can integrate technology in ways that help librarians create services that support their communities through every new wave of technology and life.

References:

op de Beeck, N. (2026, October 22). PLA partners with Microsoft on library AI info sessions. Publishers Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/101589-pla-partners-with-microsoft-on-library-ai-info-sessions.html

Queens Public Library. (n.d.). Scholarships for Change: Discovering free resources for college scholarships. https://www.queenslibrary.org/about-us/news-media/blog/3049#main-content

Robert, J., Muscanell, N., McCormack, M., & Arnold, K. (2026). 2026 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and learning edition. EDUCAUSE. https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2026/5/2026hrteachinglearning.pdf

Stephens, M. (2025). New horizons [Video]. San José State University School of Information. https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=2e3054fe-ac9b-4e93-bff9-b314014cb081

University of Denver. (n.d.). About your 4D peer mentor.https://studentaffairs.du.edu/new-student-family/peer-mentorship/about-your-4d-peer-mentor

Hello, everyone!

Here is my Innovation Roadmap: Library Esports, which shows how I would implement esports at one of the San Antonio Public Library branches.

Talk soon!

Helsinki Central Library Oodi (Oodi, 2019)

International libraries, like international travel, have always fascinated me. My interest in exploring libraries around the world comes from the same reason why I travel: to see how other cultures live. Traveling internationally is similar to reading a book; you get to take in new perspectives, environments, and ideas you may not have been familiar with before opening that book or getting on that plane. I advocate for traveling for the same reason I advocate for reading books: you may learn something new.

That is why I explored the International Libraries section of our module and landed on an article in which I learned about a place where the residents are among the most literate people in the world: Finland. As someone who is passionate about literacy in all its forms, I was mesmerized by the information in the article Helsinki Invests In Its People With A Library That Reinvents the Genre. The caption­— “Oodi is the place to go if you want to read a book, meet up with your friends, borrow a cello, or cut metal with lasers”— was no understatement (Cord, 2018, para. 1).

Libraries around the world could learn so much from Helsinki Central Library Oodi. Like many domestic libraries, Oodi is a place for reading, learning, and discussion. However, the range of services provided at Oodi is what sets it apart. Each floor provides an array of services that, in a perfect world, most libraries would offer. The first floor holds a restaurant, café, and movie theater where connection and socialization can take place.

Restaurant Food & Co at Oodi (Mindtrip, n.d.)

Kino Regina at Helsinki Central Library Oodi (Oodi, 2025)

The second floor is centered around creativity with makerspaces, studios, and music rooms (Cord, 2018).

3D printers at Oodi’s Urban Workshop (Oodi, n.d.)

A3 scanner at Oodi’s Urban Workshop (Oodi, n.d.)

Laser cutter at Oodi in Varaamo (Oodi, n.d.)

Media workstations at Oodi in Varaamo (Oodi, n.d.)

Sewing machines at Oodi in Varaamo (Oodi, n.d.)

Music Studio at Helsinki Central Library Oodi (squirrel-bear, 2023)

Oodi even has a room called “The Cube” that houses smart walls where artists can create immersive digital art exhibitions or medical students can perform mock surgeries (Cord, 2018).

“The Cube” at Helsinki Central Library Oodi (Panasonic Business, n.d.)

The third floor is what most people would view as a traditional library with access to approximately 100,000 books (Cord, 2018).

Helsinki Central Library Oodi (Thorpe, 2022) Note. Photograph by Tuomas Uusheimo

Although all these services are amazing, budget restrictions are the biggest hurdle to offering them at most libraries. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to learn from Oodi. First, we have to acknowledge the culture that has made this library so successful. Finnish people are avid users of library services because of the value they place on literacy. This is shown through the employment of reading coaches at Oodi who are available to help people develop their reading skills (Cord, 2018).

Here in San Antonio, Texas, only 48% of students in grades 3-8 are reading at grade level. That is 6% below the statewide average of 54% (City Education Partners, 2025). Providing access to reading coaches would not only increase activity at the library, but also give children whose families lack the financial resources to hire a tutor additional support with reading.

Equipment such as smart walls, digital technology, 3D printers, and makerspaces costs money. However, creativity is free. Libraries that do not have those funds can still host movie nights, establish dynamic makerspaces using donated or cost-effective materials, and create events that support social interaction.

Viewing libraries from a global perspective gives you a chance to discover innovative ideas that you may never encounter if you didn’t think to look outside your own library’s county, let alone the country. Staying aware of what libraries are doing internationally gives you the opportunity to discover different ways to serve your patrons and community. By implementing small changes each year that support the advancement of your community, you can help your library become your community’s Oodi Library.

References:

City Education Partners. (2025). 2025 STAAR data report. https://cityeducationpartners.org/2025-staar-report/

Cord, D. J. (2018, December). Helsinki invests in its people with a library that reinvents the genre. This is Finland.  https://finland.fi/life-society/helsinki-invests-in-its-people-with-a-library-that-reinvents-the-genre/?fbclid=IwAR02YiMMaUOXanedOfFbDrzhou_4s1_oHQInvzYDk3bPJeu9Vx3D_ItX5Zs

Mindtrip. (n.d.). Restaurant Food & Co—Oodi. https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/helsinki-finland/restaurant-food-co-oodi/at-1EdsvTbc

Oodi. (2019, August 27). Helsinki Central Library Oodi chosen as the best new public library in the world. https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/helsinki-central-library-oodi-chosen-as-the-best-new-public-library-in-the-world/

Oodi. (n.d.). Urban workshop. https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/services/urban-workshop/

Oodi. (2025, May 12). Kino Regina, Oodi’s movie theatre. https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/kino-regina-oodis-movie-theatre/

Panasonic Business. (n.d.). Public library of the year demands reliability from cameras and projectors [Case study]. https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/sites/default/files/media/document/2022-10/297397.pdf

Squirrel-bear. (2023, January 25). I just found out Helsinki City Library Oodi has a studio with Moog One 8, OB6, Nord Stage 3 and modular synth [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/10kyn4f/i_just_found_out_helsinki_city_library_oodi_has_a/

Thorpe, H. (2022, October 7). Helsinki opens a light-filled library as a national monument to education, sharing and books. Wallpaper*. https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/oodi-public-library-helsinki-ala-architects-finland

Reader Rendezvous: A Discord Book Club (Red Deer Public Library, n.d.)

Of all the enlightening content that I reviewed, the question raised in Michael Stephens’s The Heart of Librarianship—“Are we reaching everyone we can?”—is what lingered in my thoughts (Stephens, 2016, p.41). Why? Because it made me ask the same question about my library, and I unfortunately came back with the answer: no. Naturally, I had to ask myself why, and after reviewing this module’s materials, the reason became much clearer. We are a library that has a website, but we are not a library that is hyperlinked. As I understand it, hyperlinked libraries are what Stephens describes as institutions that move “across virtual and physical planes” (Stephens, 2016, p.41). After watching the video “Watch & Learn” Pop-Up Library Program in the Bronx, I realized that we are not taking a “beyond-the-walls” approach to reaching our community (Stephens, 2016, p.43).

For instance, while I was at the dentist this week, the dental assistants and hygienist were discussing how they wanted to get back into reading because of recent movies that were based on books such as Homer’s Odyssey. This made me think: How do we bring libraries to those who may be working during library hours or can’t attend the programs? A hyperlinked idea that came to mind was using online platforms such as Discord.  Creating a book club on a Discord server gives busy people a chance to still socialize online with librarians and other patrons, encourages patrons to borrow books from the library either digitally or physically, and allows people to respond on their own time.

Working adults are busy. It is unlikely that they will use their valuable free time to peruse our library websites when we are competing with platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok for our patrons’ time and attention. We have to remind them that libraries are still here to meet their needs. We can do this by following the approach we use in schools and taking a trip to surrounding businesses to conduct surveys, hand out infographics, or even just stop by to say hello. This keeps the library in mind when potential users are “trying to get back into reading” and also creates opportunities for partnerships and new program ideas.

Overall, this module taught me that people recognize that libraries are still integral to the communities they serve. In The Heart of Librarianship, Stephens (2016) shares findings from the Pew Research Center’s (2013) study, How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities. The study found that 90% of respondents said the closure of their local public library would affect their community. However, when it came to personal impact, only 29 percent of respondents claimed it would have a major effect on them and their families (Pew Research Center, 2013, as cited in Stephens, 2016). This study shows that it is up to us to stay aware of the ever-changing needs of our patrons. Libraries that do so will continue to remain a pillar in their patrons’ lives from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The key is to stay hyperlinked.

References:

Bibliothèques Sans Frontières. (2017, October 11). “Wash & learn” pop-up library program in the Bronx [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HM7pQiqDZY&t=2s

Pew Research Center. (2013, December 11). How Americans value public libraries in their communities. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/

Red Deer Public Library. (n.d.). Reader Rendezvous: A Discord book club. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://rdpl.org/reader-rendezvous/

Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship: Attentive, positive, and purposeful change. ALA Editions.