By nature, I am a storyteller. It’s what led me to have a career in direct service to the community. Stories show how we understand the world, how we connect with each other, and how we see ourselves. Our stories need to be heard, seen, and shared because they remind us that we’re not alone and that we truly are connected to each other. Our stories make our communities. 

Narrative Inquiry: Looking Beyond Data

I’m drawn to this concept of narrative inquiry and how it truly keeps the individual and their story at the center. It provides more depth and insight into the data we’re constantly collecting and assessing. 

Community work is rooted in constantly analyzing data to prove that the work we are doing is valuable. However, we know that data alone cannot capture the live experiences of the communities and the people we serve. Narrative inquiry, I believe, serves as that connection between the data and the person. It allows us to hear the unique individual stories of the people rather than reducing them to numbers. As a community worker, narrative inquiry allows me to also better advocate for the people we serve, and remind stakeholders of the people behind the data. 

Story Time!

 I had the chance to meet and share my story last week with Mychal Threets. Mychal is an SJSU MLIS alum who’s gone viral for capturing #libraryjoy. His work is an amazing example of storytelling on behalf of librarians and the communities they serve. These stories weren’t told, and now we’re seeing the benefits of sharing these stories for the world to see and how much the library impacts every one of us.

Below is the link to our conversation:

https://www.instagram.com/mychal3ts/reel/DHycjiGRolB/?hl=en

What’s Your Story?

So now, I must ask…what would kid you say now that you’re becoming a librarian?

During this week’s lecture, I really homed in on the concept of micro-credentials because it’s in line with what I do in my 9-5.

Our education and job landscape is rapidly changing. I’ve been privy to the stresses many of my students had in attaining a stable and meaningful career in Silicon Valley. While I continue to stress the importance of higher education, I also must recognize my privilege in sharing that with my students. To put it simply, most of them cannot afford to dedicate 4-5 years in higher education because of various concerns such as time, finances, child care, and other reasons. Yet these students are driven to get the education they want for their lives; they’re seeking alternative pathways and looking at building their skillset through micro-credentials and certifications. Corporations are constantly looking for talent and it is in the communities they are directly located in. It’s a matter of truly tapping into that local talent that may not necessarily have the traditional degree,  but has the skillsets a corporate company needs.

Earning micro-credentials and certifications is becoming a more popular alternative than the traditional four year college degree. Workforce Development Programs like Year Up United provides students with the business and technical skills needed to not only get placed in an internship but to also thrive in the corporate sector. Students also have the opportunity to earn various certifications tailored to their specific learning track (Project Management, Information Technology, and Data Analytics). Certificates include mastery in agile methodologies such as Scrum or advanced technology certifications such as CompTIA.

Beyond training programs like Year Up United, the libraries have the opportunity to support alternative pathways to education and career advancement by providing access to learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning (as is the case in Silicon Valley), Udemy, Pluralsight, and Coursera. Additionally libraries can partner with education and career pathways programs, to continue to break barriers and close opportunity gaps.

As the education landscape is being reshaped as we speak, it’s crucial that we start to embrace diverse and alternative pathways to success. Skills based learning through micro-credentials and certifications offers provides more inclusive opportunity to the whole community. It offers folks the flexibility and affordability to gain the education they are seeking for career readiness.

It’s also a good reminder that the traditional college route isn’t for everyone. And that’s okay!  What’s important is that we continue to create environment where pathways to success are not only accepted but are also highly valued.

When browsing through this week’s Choose Your Own Adventure readings, Nalatie’s blogpost, Hygge @ the Library, immediately caught my eye. I read Meik Wiking’s book, The Little Book of Hygge, and it changed the way I live my life. Similarly, the Dutch practice gezellig, which is also deeply rooted in how my husband and our family navigate this life. 

These concepts have been gaining in popularity for quite some time now. While many folks who’ve heard of these concepts see it as finding coziness and contentment, there’s much more than just that. It’s the idea of practicing rest, coziness, and quiet revelry when life isn’t so cozy.

Imagine this: there is a big storm outside, but you’re inside your home. You light candles, have a warm drink by your side, and you’re quietly enjoying a book. That’s hygge and gezellig. It’s about being present and embracing quiet stillness in the midst of chaos and noise. 

In America, we’re so used to the “grind” and working until we reach burnout. Practicing hygge/gezellig is needed by many in this country; on top of constantly working, the media machine churns out a consistent stream of news that makes people feel marginalized and alienated by our government. 

It’s difficult to find peace and quiet when there’s constant chaos…and…

I am a firm believer that rest is an act of rebellion. Hygge/gezellig gives us the mental space to rest, recharge, and care for ourselves and each other so that we can keep moving forward together as a community. 

So how can we best practice this radical idea of hygge?

Go the library.

They are the embodiment of hygge and gezellig. The libraries offer spaces to unwind whether it’s being in solitude or being in community. Ohe has the capacity to escape and enjoy leisure pursuits or reflect and learn. The libraries are a place to disconnect from the noise and step away from the “grind.”

In @michael‘s book, Whole-Hearted Librarianship, there is a chapter dedicated to hygge that is sticking with me.  He writes about the Yin and Yang of the hyperlinked library model, and wonders out loud if we’re moving towards a new style of engagement away from the chatter of the 24 hour news and information cycle. The concept of hygge might be the yin to the social media’s yang. (Stephens, 2019)

I couldn’t agree more with that idea. While I quite enjoy bringing the communities from the virtual world into the physical world, I also think it’s necessary for us to have some time to rest, reflect, and pause away from the interwebs. The world is constantly demanding from us. Libraries remind us that we can just simply be. That’s radical. And that’s what I think hygge is all about. 

References:

Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance. ALA Editions.

When reflecting upon hyperlinked communities and its deep connection to the library ecosystem, there was an underlying theme that kept coming to my mind. 

Being in service to each other is what connects the libraries to the hyperlinked communities.

While libraries provide space for reading, information seeking, and quiet study, they are also dynamic evolving spaces designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Whether through makerspaces, The Library of Things, countless programs and workshops, events like SCCLD Comic-Con, or  through social media engagement, libraries build bridges and connect people to each other. By design, libraries foster a deep sense of belonging which continues to enhance and strengthen our hyperlinked communities.  

At their core, libraries truly embody diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). They are spaces of radical inclusivity and belonging; their goal is to serve everyone equitably, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, or ability. The libraries are one of the few spaces in this world where people can come as they are without requiring anything in return. The only ask is to respect the space and each other so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy. 

Libraries exist to serve, providing equitable access to the space to all. An example I can think of is how late fees at Santa Clara County Libraries were removed. This decision expanded community outreach, bringing people into the libraries who may have avoided it because of fear of incurring late charges. Patrons feel empowered to deepen their knowledge and build connections while having the support and guidance from librarians and information service providers. 

To be in service to others is to remove barriers to access. This is essential to how libraries function, reinforcing their ongoing commitment to DEIB practices. In an era where DEIB practices are being threatened, it’s important to look at the libraries to understand and know what DEIB practices are truly about.  As Laursen stated,

“Because the act of inclusion is also a fight against exclusion and exclusion is bad news – both for individuals, groups and society… Inclusion makes you thrive mentally and physically, gives us the opportunity to learn from others and to help others and it can help us feel that we belong.” (Lauersen, 2018).

This is what hyperlinked communities are all about. It’s about providing access to each other and creating communal spaces to share ideas and resources both in the physical and digital realm. It’s unwavering commitment and belief that everyone belongs.

Introduction: Reframing the idea of the library

One of my core beliefs that continues to drive my journey into librarianship is that libraries are community builders. They provide the crucial third spaces –  the places that we gather together that are neither home nor work ( Henshall, 2021) –  for anyone  to access. While one can define a third space as a coffee shop, the mall, or a bar, the libraries are in unique position to be defined as a third space that is not only accessible to anyone, but also accessible without needing to buy anything. Libraries are spaces that go beyond a book repository, rather they have the capacity to be the third space where users come for education, community, and respite.

These third spaces are needed now more than ever. Yet, they are disappearing at a rapid rate. Factors such as wage gaps, a global pandemic, and the rise of remote work and education continue to contribute to this decline.

The Declining Third Space

 In the article, The Unfortunate, Ongoing Disappearance of Third Places,  Rao discusses how the reduction of third spaces can be attributed to many factors particularly the widening pay gap. Rao, citing a quote from The Atlantic, states, “This is the ‘consequence of a culture obsessed with productivity and status, whose subjects might have decent incomes but little recreational time.’”  (The Atlantic as cited in Rao, 2024) Our society is working longer hours to earn livable wages. Oftentimes third spaces also come at a high cost. Rather than go out and spend money, people turn to the digital space for community.

From the Digital Space to the Physical Realm

While the digital space is valuable for communities around the world to connect, they cannot fully replace the importance of in-person engagement. As Michael wrote in his book, Wholehearted Librarianship, “Libraries need to encourage the heart in the physical realm as well as online. We should be looking for creative ways to create zones in the library for different user groups…it should be okay to have at the library.” (Stephens, 2019) Michael emphasizes the need for libraries to embrace play and creativity whether through gaming or fun interactive experiences in the library.

Library 2.0: Purposeful Changes for the Library 

This aligns with the ideas discussed in the book, Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service. Casey and Savastinuk discuss how libraries are facing rapid change and increasing challenges due in large part to shifts in user expectations, savviness in technological resources, and additional competition for users’ attention and limited time. (Casey, Savastinuk, 2007) Library 2.0 seeks to reimagine the library as that dynamic third space that fosters connection, collaboration, and innovation.

As defined by Casey and Savastinuk, Library 2.0 is, “…a model for constant and purposeful change. Library 2.0 empowers library users through participatory, user-driven services. Through the implementation of the first two elements, Library 2.0 seeks to improve services to current library users while also reaching out to potential library users” (Casey & Savastinuk, 2007).

Bad Badz Maru and Pochacco

Santa Clara City Library Comic Con: A library transformed

Library 2.0 is evident in library initiatives like the Santa Clara City Library (SCCL) Comic Con, which transformed the library into a hub of innovation, creativity, and fandom. Events like SCCL Comic Con should continue to be mimicked across the nation as libraries seek to reclaim their title as an essential third space. It’s an important reminder for users as well as information service providers that libraries aren’t just for books. They’re spaces intended to build community.

Now in it’s 7th year, SCCL Comic Con  celebrates reading and imagination  by bringing together artists, comic books shops, cosplayers, makers, and authors. (Santa Clara City Library, n.d.) Unlike conventional Comic Conventions such as San Diego Comic-Con, SCCL Comic Con is free and open to the whole community. This ensures that financial barriers do not limit participation in the fandom thus fostering an inclusive and accessible event for all ages and audiences. 

By hosting such an event, the Santa Clara City Library developed a unique third space that allows fans, creators, and families to come together to exchange ideas, play video games, tinker in maker spaces, meet industry professionals, cosplay (shameless plug for the 501st  Legion: Golden Garrisons here), make art, and, simply, be in community. 

As Michael wrote, Hooray for loud spaces in libraries that might be full of collaboration and conversation!” (Stephens, 2019)

My son and his favorite droids

Crafts with Snoopy

Conclusion: Reclaiming the Third Space

The SCCL Comic Con is an important reminder that libraries are more than just a quiet place to study and borrow books. They are a necessary third space where people, both new and seasoned library users, can gather, innovate, have fun, and feel a sense of belonging.

Libraries are shaped by the community it serves. Librarians are excited to serve the community as best they can with the budget they have. This means that users should use the library as a third space as often as they can as libraries are intended to  provide connection in an increasingly digitally siloed world.

References:

Henshall, A. (April 29th, 2021) Third places: The ways losing our local haunts hurts us. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210428-third-places-how-losing-responsibility-free-zones-hurts-us

Casey, M. E., & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Information Today.

Rao, D. (March 25th, 2024). The Week US. The unfortunate, ongoing disappearance of ‘third places’ https://theweek.com/culture-life/third-places-disappearing 

Santa Clara City Library (n.d.). Comic Con. https://www.sclibrary.org/calendar/events/comic-con

Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance. ALA Editions.

Hi Everyone! My name is Mary Ann and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I’m excited to be part of this class and to get to know everyone here.
A little about me: I’m an Associate Director of Program at Year Up United. This is a nonprofit organization focused on workforce development for folks ages 18-29. I’ve been in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years. I’m passionate about community building and I believe libraries are one of the few spaces where folks can come as they are no and there’s no pressure to buy anything. I’ve also found that libraries are the safe and brave spaces for all of us especially for our marginalized communities. I also ensure that my students get their library cards because the library offers so many things that they’re often surprised by.

Beyond work, I am a mom to a wild and funny 4 year old. I also love to cook, knit, and sew. We’re movie buffs in this home and I’m also also happy to talk Star Wars with folks…and anything Pedro Pascal related. 🤣