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Module 9: New Horizons

Image by Rawk Kim via Unsplash

New Horizons

“We shape our own future, but we cannot do that if we sit back and simply watch. The library that is flexible, listens to its community, and changes to meet changing demand and demographics will be the library that succeeds, prospers, and pushes its mission out to the most citizens” (Casey & Savastinuk, 2007).

In this module, we turn our attention to what’s next—those technologies on the horizon that are beginning to shift how we live, learn, and connect. From artificial intelligence and immersive environments to voice assistants and smart ecosystems, the tools just over the threshold are already reshaping the information landscape. Libraries, as ever-evolving spaces of possibility, are uniquely positioned to explore and integrate these innovations with intention and heart.

Through selected readings—including recent Horizon Reports, the latest IFLA Trend Report, and exploratory media—students will reflect on how emerging technologies intersect with the values of the hyperlinked library: openness, transparency, participatory service, and deep engagement with users’ lives. This is not about adopting tech for tech’s sake—it’s about staying tuned to how these shifts can enhance human connection and help libraries stay relevant in a rapidly transforming world.

Students are encouraged to consider the implications of these trends within the context of their own practice and imagine how library services might evolve. How can we thoughtfully weave AI, ambient computing, or spatial computing into the fabric of our institutions? How do we balance innovation with empathy?

As we look ahead, this module serves as a space for curiosity and creativity—an invitation to dream, to explore, and to question what it means to serve our communities in a future that’s already arriving.

Lecture Recording

Things to Read (Pick & Choose What Interests You)

Things to View

Things to Explore

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