From the Infinite Learning Modules, I appreciated the aspect of how libraries are learning environments for users and for library information professionals. The idea of continuous learning in life literacy is such an effective term because this is everyone’s first time through life. The difference between all of us is that we all have different ways to learn. Libraries and information settings that get to know their community and use creativity to approach mundane subjects and engage with users are more successful with cultivating learning opportunities. From “books and butchers” to libraries building a power tools collection for their patrons to borrow from are all unconventional ideas when one thinks of library programming.

Infinite Learning and Professional Learning is an important topic to me. For an information setting like libraries, I think connecting with others both in and out of the industry and learning about their approaches in their careers is so important. The hard skills are one thing, but soft skills are what “makes the world go round.” Soft skills might be even more difficult to learn than hard skills because much of it is based on learning from situations. The foundational aspects like compassion, empathy and finding balance are natural traits but are honed in by experience. I think its remarkably sad if there are staff who work a service job for decades and do not engage with others to learn about different approaches and discuss various solutions to similar problems. In my pervious jobs, having mixers to talk with others similar to my position on different projects was educational. Those always felt great after because it you did not feel alone and genuine connections are made.

The Lego Foundation hosting a creativity workshop for employees to build and create a little machine holding a pen is a great example of how everyone brings a unique perspective to an identical situation. The host mentions that no matter how much this workshop takes place, the results are always different. That is the beauty of having a diverse community and encouraging users to engage in uncustomary ways to exercise the creative side of the brain. I imagine an idea like Books and Butchers had to have been born in a supportive, accepting, and open environment.

References

The LEGO Foundation. July5, 2016. What do we mean by learning through play? https://vimeo.com/173458519

Stephens, M. (2019). “Formula for Success” in Wholehearted Librarianship, p. 30

Stephens, M. (2019). “Personal, Actionable, Accessible” in Wholehearted Librarianship, p. 44

I felt inspired after reading A Library’s Listening Lab by Chad Mairn and Joe Terrana. Music is another form of storytelling in the way it captures emotions. The context is unique to the artist creating the music and the interpretation can be unique to each individual listener. And as great as technology advancements are in making listening to music an accessible action throughout our daily lives, the way people ingested music before the digital age were of a different experience. Being able to share this method to younger listeners today or even bringing back nostalgia for others (in a repurposed library space, no less) is an incredible way to bridge connection and understanding.

One of the donations to the St. Petersburg College Library music collection mentioned were bootlegged VHS tapes of concerts and that tickled me a bit, imagining someone holding a camcorder, enjoying the concert, while having the intent of sharing or keeping their experience for the future and others. With vinyls being a large part of their collection, I think this brings about a new level of appreciation for the physical materials and content. Unlike digital music, listening to vinyl requires careful handling of the vinyl itself– from how it’s stored, to being carefully placed on the player, and back to being carefully placed in its cover. Their idea of hosting a BYOV (bring your own viynls) session to share music can broaden people’s taste and knowledge in music while sparking conversations and creating new relationships within the community.

Starting a radio program to discuss and highlight unique discoveries in the collection that range in genre and not normally heard in mainstream music was also such a thoughtful way to use materials in the collection. This engagement with the collection from staff prevents items from being forgotten. This radio program and help nourish relationships between library and patrons.

St. Petersburg College Library’s music collection and their programming ideas all support the DOK library’s mantra of “Keep stories, make stories, share stories.” It was a nice read and sounded like a fun side quest for students to enjoy at the library, regardless of what their area of study was.

I found the nuance of scanning for signals instead of trying to predict trends an important aspect to notice and practice. Being able to spot topics that reoccur in conversations around us further connects us to our communities and lets us know what they value. The focus should remain on connectivity and people, not just solely on the technology.

After scanning IFLA’s Trends Report,` I noticed all of them are interconnected in some way. The first trend of course is knowledge practices are changing (access to more diverse voices and awareness of misinformation) is interwoven with trend #2, how AI and technologies are transforming society to #5, digital technologies being unevenly distributed. There have been a few news articles recently that I believe are relevant to these trends.

As pointed out in IFLA’s report, one of the concerns of using AI is after users access services, what happens when scalpers exploit these systems. This article by Cybernews reports that sensitive artifacts, such as crypto wallet codes and social security numbers, were discoverable on a Google Search. Patrons who use services in a library setting are there for a myriad of reasons and although the systems proctect privacy from users before and after, their data is indexed by the search engines by default. In this case, the AI-scalpers did not even really have to work hard to be able to retrieve sensitive information. Although I assume a non-majority number of people are using ClaudeAI and inputting their information, but as IFLA points out, many healthcare settings are also using AI for their workflows.

This article is about a long-established montessori school closing to be replaced by an AI-driven school. I thought that the roles of traditional teachers being replaced by “guides” to support the emotional and motivational needs and life skills to students goes against IFLA’s commitment to “sustainable development for all.” The lack of human connection for students during development stages does not seem sustainable as it lacks understanding. There is also the issue of access and exclusion to marginalised groups that use a less-dominant language. It is also an example to technology being largely distributed in an uneven manner because tuition for one year at this school will be $60,000. It seems unsustainable for the community because who will parents speak to about their child’s development what areas they might need support in.

Overall, I agree that these are trends on the Horizon, but as of now, the cons seem to outweigh the positives. Everyone’s due diligence to combat misinformation, continuing searching for reputable resources for reliable data, and trying not to depend or rush to these sources as the first reaction could go a long way.

Reading about how museums, galleries, and archives stay connected to their communities even when members are no longer physically on institutional spaces through technology innovations made me realize how much of these aspects I took for granted.

Titlow’s (2016) article about how New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art was informative when they spoke about how their competition was not among other museums or galleries, but rather apps and content people find on their screens, such as Netflix and Candy Crush. Even though this was written 10 years ago, I believe it to still be true. How can these institutions capture people’s attention just long enough for them to be curious about what the institution has to offer? It was a brilliant idea to digitize and upload pieces from their collection to their website to reach a wider audience. Because of our phones, so much of everyone’s attention is based on visual interest. If the MET decided not to digitize their collection, many users would likely decide not to visit the site and explore because most of the population would find browsing through pages an pages of descriptions boring. This ides can also work in reverse. A visitor can be enamoured by a piece and once they leave (whether they are in the same neighborhood or thousands of miles away), and take a deeper dive into the details. The experience continues on.

I was actually curious how their website looked like today and I must say, it really made me want to visit the museum!! I am amazed at the breadth of their collections. There are all sorts of workshops, media content, DIY workshops for kids, adults, and families, etc. Their “Learn With Us” section is full of content to watch, listen, and read. Families with children can find videos of crafting projects at home as well. There is so much to interact with the museum without having to enter the building.

This aspect on linking museums to their communities via technology segways well into Charr’s article about using technology as part of guests’ experience within the exhibitions themselves (2020). This offers users to experience artists’ perspectives in an immersive way that is completely different than standing in front of a painting or sculpture.

I can relate to this aspect of using technology to help bring users into a museum when The Broad museum in Los Angeles featured Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room installation. It may not be a VR experience, but I think having an experiential exhibit for guests makes the visit more unique. They allowed guests to bring phones, take photos, and if I remember correctly, record video as well. This helped spread the word about this exhibit through social media posts. Not only was it a more affordable avenue for the museum to market the limited time exhibit, but also spark curiosity and intrigue from folks seeing their friends post about their experiences online. It easily trended and sparked conversations among previous and potential patrons.

–@patricia

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.

–@patricia

Participatory Service & Transparency

Why does this theme stand out to you?
A concept that really stood out to me in the first couple of modules so far is the participatory services a library offers. Growing up with immigrant parents, my mom really took advantage of visiting the library together and using its resources in gaining information and learning skills, but it was mostly through books. Now looking back, I am not sure if the local library we visited did not offer as many participatory services or she was unaware of them. Either way, see the amount of services and events that invite participation from the community now is really inspiring!

What are your initial reactions or questions?
My initial reactions were mostly of appreciation for my local libraries. I realized the article by Candice Mack about the Los Angeles Public was from 2013 and it mentioned inspirations from the Maker Movement and questioning if libraries should have makerspaces. Now in 2026, the main LAPL branch has an absolutely amazing makerspace called the Octavia Lab, named after author Octavia E. Butler. Patrons may come in and use sewing and embroidery machines, 3D print things from files or use their 3D scanner, create a podcast or livestream using their gear, and this is just naming a few. I was actually curious about other services they offered and discovered you can borrow solar panels, mobile hotspot devices, computer bundles, and more. Actually, there is A LOT more on their website than I can list here.

How might this idea shape your perspective on libraries, learning, and community?
Libraries are central hubs for many different types of resources in regards to learning and community—much more than my initial understanding of libraries from when I was a kid. As excited as I get about spreading the word on how much libraries offer, it really worries me about their future as funding can be difficult to obtain and as the years come and go, budgets for libraries continue to be deliberately diminished . 

Can you connect it to your past experiences or future goals?
Two past experiences stand out to me in connection to the section of “Age of Participation” in the Heart of Librarianship. Last summer, I volunteered at my local library and noticed an event on their calendar that caught my attention. It invited kids who had trouble reading out loud to attend the event and practice reading to therapy dogs. It evoked a feeling of belonging and community to have a safe and caring space for kids to read without judgement. An example of empathy and kindness.
Another experience was when I joined a friend’s DnD campaign. He wanted to meet and build relationships with colleagues through something he enjoyed—being a DM (Dungeon Master). It was made possible by going to the LAPL to use their large poster printers to print out a large map of the land and he used their 3D printers for a few small figurines. This helped build community among us that would not have existed before and without this opportunity.

Where do you see this theme showing up in practice?
I can see this showing up in practice at libraries who communicate with their community. I don’t think it will matter much on what type of library it is, whether public, special, or academic. If librarians have conversations with their patrons through surveys, observation, or anything else, they would be able to create and build participation with limited resources through creativity and innovation. Obviously, it is much easier said than done. Another example that comes to mind through a quick exchange I had with the librarian during my volunteering was she mentioned they were putting a social event together for patrons to talk to each other. They had noticed that patrons were trying to have conversations with a lot of the staff, so they wanted to try creating an opportunity to build community among the patrons themselves in a place they already felt familiar and safe in.

Hello all!

My name is Patricia and I began the MLIS program Spring 2025. My background is in animation with a BFA from CSUF in Southern California. I am a professional in the industry for almost 10 years now and am working towards a career pivot. The description and focus of this class really interested me because it felt like a peak into other insights a career in this field would entail besides technological skills and knowledge. Looking forward to learning about the humanistic impacts this career potentially holds!

Some other things about me:

I enjoy exploring Los Angeles through hiking and discovering good food. My two dogs, Leopard tortoise, and two small fish tanks keep me busy when I’m at home. In the next few years, my goals are to visit Korea, Peru, and Spain!