Hyperlinked Hijinks

New Models/New Horizons Reflection

While contemplating the readings and resources for the past two modules on New Models and New Horizons, I decided to throw a question into our school-supported ChatGPT tool just to see what it would say. The question, “what will the public library of the future look like?” elicited an in-depth response that sounds like all the information offered in this course, lectures and links. The short version looks like this:

1. Digital-First but Not Digital-Only (it emphasizes the human connection)
2. Flexible Physical Spaces
3. Learning and Skill Centers
4. Community & Cultural Center
5. Tech Integration & Accessibility

It followed up asking if I would like to see a rendering of what the future library might look like. Here is what it produced:

There is a lot that could be deconstructed from these images, not the least of which is the lack of diversity among the people.

ChatGPT’s summary says, “Future libraries will be platforms for opportunity, not just repositories of books. They’ll support digital equity, creativity, civic life, and lifelong learning, ensuring no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world.” (ChatGPT, n.d.)

Two library models really stood out to me in these last modules, Storyhouse in England and Anythink libraries in Colorado. The amount of foresight and inspiration that it must have taken to build these places and services is mind blowing.

Rangeview Library District rebranded to Anythink in 2009! (Anythink Libraries, 2016). I’m sorry to say that I never visited Anythink when I lived in Colorado. (Northeastern Colorado is kind of its own country, you kind of have to decide to go there.) I really liked the video of the “Get to Know Your Neighbor” couch conversations. What a wonderful idea! Storyhouse is a civic-minded hub of creativity of which the library is only a part. The spaces and programs are innovative and inspire community and connection. (Home | Storyhouse, n.d.)

These kinds of libraries remind us of the importance of a deeper understanding of the wants and needs, spoken and unspoken, of the communities we serve. Tapping into creative services, programs, and events on top of a well-planned infrastructure for facilitating information needs is the way to establishing a solid community-minded institution.

References:

Anythink Libraries (Director). (2016, December 21). Get To Know Your Neighbor [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzLI-aqFzDQ

ChatGPT. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://chatgpt.com

Home | Storyhouse. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://www.storyhouse.com/

Have you ever seen the inside of a Humpback whale? Allow me to introduce Chomp. She is a blow-up replica of a real whale from the shores of Maine. She visited us in the library today. To see images from the inside and to learn more about Chomp, visit her website at THIS LINK. This life-size science that meets core standards and enthralls patrons of the library is one giant hyperlink!

Another example of the human hyperlink is our Friday Social Walks. Every Friday, community members meet up at the library at 9 am and take a 30-minute stroll around the wonderful trails in our town. A low-cost, high impact program that leverages community connections. These are micro-hyperlinks.

The resources in our Hyperlinked Environments module are examples of macro-hyperlinks. Wonderful, innovative programming like the HIVE in Spokane, Washington; a place with a specific purpose and found in a different part of town from the main library (The Hive – Spokane Public Library, n.d.). The “Noise Closet” in Chattanooga, a place where rock band instruments can be borrowed (jmyers, 2023). And then there’s the Memphis Sound Connection, a super groovy collection of current local music in multiple genres available for streaming right from the site. (Memphis Sound Connection, n.d.). What these examples all have in common is a deep connection to the identity and information needs of their community. Making cool connections and exciting programming is great, but if it’s not what the community needs or wants it may be a waste of time and resources. This is nothing new, of course, but it bears repeating and remembering.

The reading that really stood out to me in this module is “Experts Say the ‘New Normal’ in 2025 Will Be Far More Tech-Driven, Presenting More Big Challenges”. Written in 2021, the article reports on where experts feel society is going in terms of connectivity. Now that it is 2025, it seems the experts were right, for the most part. They predicted that economic inequality would worsen, big technology firms would have enhanced power, and that misinformation would be multiplied. On the positive side, the experts predicted new reforms aimed at racial justice and social equity, enhancements to the quality of life for many families and workers, and enhanced technology that help people lead “smarter, safer, and more productive lives”. I believe a case can be made on all these points. Maybe not in every part of the country and certainly to different degrees. One of the things I remember distinctly about Jr. High school was a “life” class where we learned how to write checks. I have written thousands of checks in my life, paying bills monthly from age 20 to about 50 when things started becoming available to pay online. Now, I just use an app. It’s often simple, though sometimes frustrating, but so much better than sitting down at the kitchen table with a checkbook and handwriting every bill, and the envelopes and stamps. I see a big difference from 2021 to now in the ease of paying bills – it’s getting too easy to spend money! I recall a few years ago pulling up Amazon at a stoplight and making a “purchase now” buy to replace my wallet. A $40 purchase in a matter of minutes, with time to spare before the green light. I once purchased a vinyl album while waiting for the bank teller to send my receipt back out to me after depositing a check in in the drive through. It really is a brave new world.

(note: I don’t recommend shopping while driving.)

References:

jmyers. (2023, January 20). Noise Closet—Library. https://chattlibrary.org/noise-closet/

Memphis Sound Connection. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://memphis.musicat.co/

The Hive—Spokane Public Library. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://www.spokanelibrary.org/hive/

SCATTERED THOUGHTS

Librarians in Action:

This past Saturday, our community hosted its 2^nd Annual “Falmouth Days” event in Community Park where vendors, non-profits, food trucks, and more were gathered to bring the community together. I’ve been to events like this before, and manned library booths for a library at events like this. I’ve only been with FML (yes, we are amused by our acronym) since January of this year, so it was my first time at Falmouth Days. Rain aside, I had the pleasure of witnessing our Community Outreach Director do her job, really well. She connected with folks in a very laid-back way, asking thoughtful questions and finding ways to demonstrate how we can be mutually beneficial. She listened more than she spoke, and she found that all-important connection. Such an artful approach, I was impressed. “Hyperlinks are people, too.” (Hyperlinked Communties, n.d.)

Digital Gatekeepers

The first library I worked in, (and the one that opened my eyes to the career of youth services; who knew that was a job? I didn’t!), was a department of the city. This was in 2012. I didn’t even have a “smartphone” at this point. Typical Microsoft products were the only digital tools available to us. Anything related to the internet, the website and then eventually a Facebook page, were all carefully controlled and came out of the city’s IT Department. When I left there in 2018, we still had the same digital tools – six years later. Imagine my surprise when I started my MLIS in 2023 to see so much out there. Many of our readings this week are dated back to 2014. I was very interested in the article on “Reading Maps” (Rendón, 2013) only to find their links no longer work. I couldn’t see the reading map. This exciting “new” idea to me had been written about when I was only one year into my first job as a librarian. While I was figuring out how to make a poster with Publisher, they were creating living documents with hyperlinks.

Implicit Bias

The reading that stood out most to me this week was “What World are We Building” (boyd, 2016). Our digital connectedness is essentially a magnifying glass. We have the same prejudices, biases, and frames of thought, but now they can be shared with the entire world. When we create tools, both physical and digital, they can be used to create, help, even heal, but they can also be used to manipulate, control, strike fear. “When the data you input is biased, what you get out is just as biased. These systems learn the biases in our society, and they spit them back out at us.” (boyd, 2016). This reminds me of the only thing I remember from my required computing class in college, circa 1986, “Garbage In : Garbage Out”.

After my first library job, I worked as an administrative assistant for a medical university (it’s there I got the courage to go for my MLIS). I was there 2019-2024, during the time diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) was ramping up at universities and other institutions. The prevailing attitude of the doctors, other instructors, and staff seemed to be a collective eye roll. “Of course, we believe everyone should have the same opportunities.” But our administration did a good job of choosing quality training. I soon found I was learning so much about myself and others. I was able to identify, label, and learn how to work through my biases. I was encouraged to share my enthusiasm with others. I think humans just don’t like being told something is mandatory or required. I can’t speak for anyone else, but that training was transformational for me.

Bringing it All Together

Saying we are open to all, that everyone is welcome, and having a mission statement that embodies that is meaningless if we don’t build the culture to sustain it. I’d love a follow up to the Multnomah piece, “Creating Conditions for Equity to Flourish” (American Library Association, 2019). What an inspirational story. My current library is similar in that it serves a more affluent, white, demographic. But we know there are others in the community who are underserved. They are there, but the connections and culture need to be optimized. “We need to shift our focus from collections to connections.” (WEVE, 2014).

Resources

American Library Association (Director). (2019, June 17). Multnomah County Library: Creating conditions for equity to flourish [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGlxh-zc0Y

boyd,  danah. (2016, October 21). What World Are We Building? Data & Society: Points. https://medium.com/datasociety-points/what-world-are-we-building-9978495dd9ad

Hyperlinked Communties. (n.d.). [Video recording]. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=3eacdb23-84fd-49e5-9975-aef3014b3ed2

Ingle, M. & Pewhairangi, S. (2014, May). WEVE.  https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/WEVE_May_2014.pdf

Rendón, J. N. (2013, December 12). Reading Maps: Readers’ Advisory on Steroids – Public Libraries Online. Public Libraries Online – A Publication of the Public Library Association. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/12/reading-maps-readers-advisory-on-steroids/

I’m attempting to embed my video, but it’s not cooperating.

I chose this class because I know the information will be very useful in my career. Michael is a fantastic teacher, so I know this will be a great experience!

About Me for INFO 287 #hyperlib by Becky Steenburg

Looking forward to using #hyperlib Learning Community Sites. This learning format is wonderful! I experienced it in one of my first classes, Information Communities.