The vision for the Anythink Nature Library– “Help people find their place in nature”—is deeply inspiring and affirms a line of thinking I have explored since my first MLIS semester. As a former educator and horticulturist with experience at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, I have long envisioned the community boon that results from merging libraries and gardens. These spaces share a profound magic: they empower the imagination, activate the senses in novel ways, and naturally draw people in for connection and growth.
The library’s design, grounded in the Environmental Kinship Guide, is a powerful philosophical foundation, stressing that humans are cohabiters in an interrelated natural world. This philosophy is evident in the project’s planning, from convening an Advisory Council including Indigenous leaders to the physical features: an indoor/outdoor nature lab, a dark room for meditative programs, and a one-mile loop trail on the 15-acre property. For me, this is the ultimate learning space—it combines the grounding experience of forest bathing and reconnecting with nature with the opportunity to grow oneself through reading, learning, and interacting with programs. Gardens add a critical multi-sensory context that inherently bolsters the mind, body, and wellness, and naturally engages children with scientific concepts.
My experience traveling in Europe, particularly seeing the mature sustainable garden practices and the landscape architecture in the Netherlands, has sparked a deep desire to contribute to this movement. I am inspired by solutions that work with nature, not against it, and I am driven to work with libraries on remodel concepts that align with the wonder of supporting native ecosystems, ensuring equitable access to green spaces, and rewilding our urban spaces. Combining these beneficial civic privileges within public information systems inspires the aesthetic and strategic design of my digital content platform.
The necessity of the Anythink Nature Library is underscored by the local data it seeks to address. The Tri-County Community Health Assessment reveals that nearly one in four Adams County residents reported poor mental health in 2021, and the community prioritizes expanding trails and natural open spaces. By providing accessible, hands-on nature learning (such as the specialized TryIts and exterior gardens), Anythink will act as a vital community anchor, addressing both mental and physical health deficits. The fact that others have formalized this framework gives me immense hope that this model of librarianship is our collective future.
References:
Anythink: (N.d.). Anythink Nature Library.