Reading the report by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (2015) and the article by Pyatetsky (2015) about how libraries around the world support refugees and immigrants reminded me of my own immigrant parents. My parents immigrated from Sri Lanka to Canada in the 1990s after fleeing the civil war. When they arrived, they spoke very little English and knew almost nothing about their new home. Their experience helped me understand the important role that libraries can play in supporting newcomers as they adapt to a new country. The neighbourhood where my family lived had a large population of Sri Lankan immigrants and refugees. As a result, the…

After completing the Hyperlinked Communities module, the themes that resonated most with me were the growing digital divide, social justice in libraries, and the role of libraries as safe spaces. These topics are particularly meaningful to me because of my strong commitment to social justice and ensuring everyone keeps up with the rapidly changing technology. Digital Divide and Libraries Reading the Williams & Muller (2021) article on how libraries are helping bridge the digital divide in their communities prompted me to reflect on my own role as a library staff member. At my branch, I am one of the staff members responsible for implementing a Wi-Fi hotspot lending program. Through…

What is participatory service, and why is it important for future teen services in the library? This concept was introduced in the Hyperlinked Library course and emphasizes involving the community that libraries serve in the planning and development of services and programs. It prompted me to consider how teen patrons could be actively involved in designing and brainstorming ideas about the resources, programs, and spaces they want the library to provide. Engaging teens in this process is important because it helps ensure that library services remain relevant, responsive, and meaningful for our community youth. My awareness of the lack of teen participation in libraries began during my library assistant job…

Hello Everyone, Welcome to my introductory blog post. My name is Nimaliny Kumaradevan and I am currently in my second semester of the MLIS program at San Jose State University. I have been fortunate to work at various Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches and departments in various job titles as a page, public service assistant, payroll clerk, and accounting clerk. Currently, I am working as a library assistant, and my dream is to become a children’s or youth librarian. Working as a front-line worker allows me to interact with patrons and hear about the different information and technological needs they have. At my branch, I have assisted the librarians in…