The topic of hyperlinked environments and global issues compelled me to examine the concept of Global Libraries through a deeply personal lens. As an American living abroad in Germany, I am excited to explore how asynchronous communication and emerging technologies can connect me with this global community. I feel as though my emerging global consciousness is a key component of my future outlook on the field of librarianship amidst democratic erosion across the globe. The future is here, and I want to ride the wave of technological competency and guide others to do the same.
My professional journey is currently guided by a personal challenge: embracing vulnerability. As a private creative who has long struggled with the fear of putting my work out there, I am choosing to lean into discomfort—a lesson inspired by Brené Brown—by committing to new forms of multimedia publication, including tutorials focused on basic technological literacy. This personal step toward public sharing mirrors the mission of the modern library.
IFLA’s work has profoundly expanded my view of librarianship. Global librarianship, to me, means connecting over shared humanity, engaging the human mind and spirit through education and culture. It is a necessary model for our future, essential for promoting positive civic outlooks and standing as a non-partisan replacement for declining democratic soft power initiatives such as the recently cut-off USAID program.
The IFLA Global Vision Report (2024) reinforces this mandate. Libraries are dedicated to free access to information, committed to literacy, focused on community service, and are the guardians of the world’s memory. We must be less bureaucratic and more innovative, a call perfectly articulated by the shift from beyond the “third place” into the Four Spaces of the Public Library. As they say, “Libraries should keep stories, share stories, and make stories.” The Four Spaces—Inspiration, Learning, Meetings, and Performance—produce community experiences, empowerment, involvement, and innovation. For the digital realm, this means tapping into the energy of a global network through hyperlinked environments to expose people to cultures and art forms they may never have imagined, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, inspiring patrons and opening their minds for life.
The possibilities feel limitless. I look forward to developing programming and tech-literacy skills that help translate the physical energy of the Four Spaces into accessible digital spaces, allowing me to contribute my own signature touch to global librarianship and watch myself grow.
References:
IFLA. (2017). Global Vision Report Summary.
Ted Houston. (2010, June). Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability