For this assignment, I will be using a fictional academic library to implement my emerging trend. This concept goes by many names: Roving Reference, Roaming Reference, Librarian on the Loose, Librarians in the Wild, Your Library, and more. No matter what you call it (“a rose by any other name,” and all), the service refers to a non-traditional, proactive reference method that leaves the desk–and sometimes even the library itself–behind, using technology to mobilize reference resources and meet patrons where they are. This is especially important in a time when traditional, passive reference interactions are on the decline (Dempsey, 2011; McCabe & MacDonald, 2011; Bremer, 2016). We plan to invite…

That is the question. The answer? Be a participatory library in any and every way you can! As the title and opening suggest, the concept of participatory libraries is the one I will explore for this assignment. Traditional library infrastructure involves a hierarchy flowing from the director downward; in other words, decisions start at the top (Casey & Savastinuk, 2007, p. 61). In contrast, The Hyperlinked Library model relaxes this shape, letting it diffuse into a team-based atmosphere (Stephens, 2016). More than that, in The Hyperlinked Library, even patrons (and non-patron community members!) can be involved in the decision-making process. When libraries unlock avenues for ongoing user input and incorporate…