As we dig further into how libraries are hyperlinked communities, I feel more inspiration from all the creative and thoughtful ways libraries break free from the traditional ideas of what a library is thought to be and instead practice ideas that actually reach out into the community and provide access to resources, lifting up its members.
I was especially touched by the library pop-up program at laundromats in the Bronx. A brilliant idea to expose those unaware of library resources while they are waiting for a chore to finish up. Even though it’s just a short 30-minutes or so, now they know libraries are a reliable source for practical information and they could stop by if they need more assistance or have more questions later on regarding other topics. It also seemed like a great way to reach all different age groups within the community because the majority of people need to wash their clothes.
Accessibility and exposure to what libraries offer are important. From Warner’s (2024) article, hold lockers can make all the difference for someone who may have health issues. Just having the option to pick up the items they chose to borrow without having to expose themselves due to health compromises is all they might need in order to use library services. Having a little kiosk or area to borrow books in an area of public transit like Halifax International Airport is also a great idea! For those who travel often or are doing a round trip, being able to borrow a book for a short duration is better than having to buy a marked up book. I understand that the chances of books not being returned in this setting is greater, but there probably is a way to track different types and values of books provided to patrons so that not too many library resources and staff energy are lost in this setting.
The last part I will mention that resonated with me was Ciara Eastell’s Ted Talk, “How Libraries Change Lives.” She spoke about how the resources of a library should be available to everyone, no matter their background or income. She also says libraries help build community in a world where loneliness has been on the rise and I think this is a very important point. I recently attended a mental health panel with a clinical expert and he was a strong advocate for “purpose instead of pills.” In short, he advocated that building and belonging in a community should be prioritized instead of being written a prescription as the first solution. Of course there are many nuances and situation specific aspects, but overall, community is healthy and benefits all.
Hi @patricia! I really resonated with your reflection here. I’ve been feeling the same spark of inspiration from all these unique library practices as well. It’s so amazing seeing all the different ways other libraries are trying to increase access and strengthen their community. My only gripe is that I’m nowhere near any of the super cool libraries we’ve been reading about😭. A library pop-up at the local laundromat would have blown my mind as a child. I loved going to the library, and I hated having to go to the laundromat because it was always so boring. (My mother didn’t always have enough extra quarters for me to play the Pac-Man arcade game 😅)
I spoke about Warner’s article in my hyperlinked communities post as well. I love the idea of lockers and kiosks. I didn’t focus as much on the accessibility, but I agree that it’s an incredibly important aspect of these technologies. The entire time I was reading Warner’s article, I was thinking about how nice it would be to have access to the library without having to physically go to the library. I love visiting the library, but on days when my own health issues make movement difficult, it would be amazing to have a closer option. I would also be much more likely to rent a book from a library in an airport than I would be to purchase a book from an airport store. Books are so expensive, and airports make everything extra expensive. A library in an airport would give me a much easier option to read more when traveling, instead of relying entirely on my phone and/or Steam Deck.
@patricia I really appreciate all the humanist and human-focused examples you pulled out of the module to highlight. The through line that you present is that we should be available to everyone and we should make things easy for everyone. For example, it should be easy to grab a book or two for traveling or getting information at the public library that is reliable and factual about some need that someone has.