Assignment X: Growth Through Service
The concept of participatory service in the library has grown exponentially over the past couple decades. This concept stands out to me because of the plethora of ways it helps expand the reach of the library. When libraries actively design services around community interests and needs, people are encouraged to engage with library resources beyond just borrowing books. In Revisiting Participatory Service in Trying Times, Michael Casey (2011) writes, “The participatory library is open and transparent, and it communicates with its community through many mechanisms.” Casey also mentions that there is sometimes pushback to the ways libraries conduct outreach and communicate with the community, but this communication is essential. As the library branches out into participatory service, librarians are responsible for notifying the public of the various resources available through their local libraries.
Despite the growing number of resources available through libraries, it is often true that many people still think of the library as only a book-borrowing place. I, personally, didn’t know all that my local libraries did until I started the MLIS program. The San Francisco Public Library is a great example of how a library can act as a community hub and provide free resources to the public. They provide patrons with access to Kanopy, Hoopla, Alexander Street Press, and vinly records. They also have a Jobs & Careers Center and eLearning resources. Without outreach and communication, however, the community would not know that these resources are available. My initial reaction to the types of services many public libraries provide was that I realized my definition of a library was changing. Libraries are collaborative learning spaces that help patrons personalize their learning and allows them greater agency over their interests.
The idea of a self-service library also opens the door for more participatory service and library growth. In Automatic for the People, Claire Zulkey (2019) suggests that growing participation in the library requires greater access to the library. Opening the library for longer hours with self-service resources is a great way that many libraries have managed to expand their accessibility. While this may require working out issues in some communities, such as security or the types of access available, in many libraries it has served as a way for patrons to utilize resources when their schedule allows and when they most need access. This concept really stood out to me because of how much open access relies on trust with the community and yet self-service libraries have largely been very successful.
As a teacher librarian, the idea of participatory service has made me think about ways I can create opportunities for students to become more active participants in the school library. This could include more makerspace activities, collaborative projects with the community, and more frequent and better communication with families. We have a bi-weekly parent engagement hour at my school that would be a great way for me to connect with families about the resources provided in the school library. Although these resources don’t necessarily include all that the public libraries include, I could possibly connect with a local library to have them speak about their resources at the meeting as well. Participatory service could also show up in the school library by expanding student leadership opportunities. This could include student mentors, student-created displays, and even help with social media for the library. Overall, by focusing on participatory service, the library will reach a greater number of individuals and provide resources that many people might not otherwise have access to. In a school setting, this means giving students a sense of ownership and connection with their interests and the larger community around them in order to support their learning and give them each a voice. In doing this, I hope I can help students recognize the growing number of resources and tools available to them.
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/06/03/all-hours-access/
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/09/03/automatic-people-self-service-libraries/
