Hyperlinked Communities

The one concept that resonates with me the most from module five is the idea that libraries should make the effort to reach out to users beyond the library’s premises. Stephens (2016) asserts that technological innovations have given libraries the opportunity to connect with the community and can be utilized to create services that extend beyond the library’s physical location, as well as allow libraries to engage with the community (p. 41). Lauerson (2025) discusses how bookmobiles allow libraries to connect with their community by giving them access to library services. Warner (2024) describes another service, hold locker kiosks, which allows patrons to pick up and hold items without having to step foot into the library. Besides providing services to patrons, these new services are a way for libraries to show patrons that they are committed to assisting and fulfilling their needs. 

I have been lucky enough to work at two different library systems and witnessed the ways in which they use technology to reach out to patrons. One of the library systems I worked for has twenty-four seven hold locker kiosks. This was the only pandemic service that remained post-pandemic because it was popular among patrons due to its accessibility. The other library system has four bookmobiles spread throughout the county and provides library services to people in remote areas. The only difference in the services is that they cannot access the library’s Wi-Fi printing or desktop computers. I am optimistic that they will soon find a way to provide those services outside of the physical branch. Another service they have is books by mail, which sends books to patrons’ homes through mail, although delivery can take a while. 

Having these innovations challenges the assumption that patrons can only access library services during opening hours. These innovations are examples of how libraries have worked hard to improve the accessibility of their services and provide better services to their communities. I am optimistic that the libraries near me will continue to search and find better, more accessible methods to serve their patrons. For example, rather than having the books by mail be delivered via postal service, they could hire people whose job it is to deliver the books directly to patrons’ homes. Similarly, libraries could employ staff whose only job is to add, remove, or load books to kiosks outside the library’s premises. In the case of bookmobiles, add Wi-Fi printing services so patrons can send print jobs to the bookmobile. 

References

Lauersen, C. (2025). The necessary nearness – an ode to bookmobiles.

Stephens, M. (2016). The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change.

Warner, L. (2024). Revolutionizing Public Libraries: Three Ways that Alternative Service Delivery Strategies Can Meet the Challenges of a

Booming Population.