Stacks to Stars: Exploring the Library’s Expanding Universe (Reflection Blog #1)

Today’s libraries serve to meet the needs of all members of their communities, a mission that extends far beyond simply housing books or maintaining databases. The Palm Springs Public Library, for example, partners with Baby2Baby to provide free diapers, wipes, detergent, food, and toiletries to families in need throughout the Coachella Valley. Meanwhile, the nearby Rancho Mirage Library offers telescopes for checkout, encouraging patrons to explore the night skies over nearby Joshua Tree National Park, and the Cathedral City Library hosts literacy classes that empower adults to pursue education and opportunity.

At first glance, these programs may not seem like “library work,” but they embody the evolving philosophy of what a library is and can be. The Palm Springs Public Library’s current renovation of creating a new library to inspire creativity, collaboration, and innovation reflects this shift. Interestingly, this transformation is not about adding more square footage, but about reimagining space: scaling back physical collections to make room for connection, creation, and learning in new forms.

Taken directly from: Warren, J. (2024). Library retrofit, renovation, and expansion. Engage Palm Springs. https://engagepalmsprings.com/library-retrofit-renovation-and-expansion/widgets/80294/photos/20467

This evolution aligns with the concept of Library 2.0, which Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk (2007) describe as a model that “encourages constant and purposeful change” and invites user input in the creation of services they actually want. The heart of Library 2.0 lies in responsiveness by listening to community voices, experimenting with new ideas, and building services collaboratively. What we are witnessing in Palm Springs is not the decline of books, but the rise of a participatory culture within the library.
Similarly, the idea of hyperlinked communities, as articulated by Michael Stephens (2016), envisions libraries as nodes in a web of human connection open, participatory, and deeply responsive to the needs of their communities. Hyperlinked libraries use technology and empathy to bridge gaps, foster inclusion, and empower individuals to share knowledge. When a library connects families with diapers, learners with literacy, or stargazers with telescopes, it becomes a living network of support and discovery.

As an emerging information professional, I find this transformation inspiring. It challenges me to think beyond traditional roles and to see libraries as ecosystems of care and creativity, or places where technology, empathy, and community intersect. The libraries of today (and tomorrow) are not simply repositories of information; they are platforms for human potential.

In the spirit of the hyperlinked community, I invite readers to reflect: where do you see these principles in action within your own community? Which programs blur the line between service, learning, and connection? By identifying and sharing these examples, we actively participate in the ongoing dialogue that keeps libraries vibrant and responsive!

References:

Casey, M. E., & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Information Today.

Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship. ALA Editions.

From Silence to Collaboration: Embracing Participatory Service in Libraries (Assignment X)

Gone are the days when libraries were defined by hushed voices and rows of silent readers, punctuated by the occasional “shh!” from a watchful librarian. Today’s libraries have shed that stereotype and emerged as vibrant community hubs, or places where collaboration, creativity, and lifelong learning flourish side by side. Far from being silos of books and quiet study, modern libraries pulse with programs and services that invite people of all ages to create, connect, and co-learn.

Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

This shift reflects what many call a participatory culture, which deems that patrons are not passive consumers of information but active partners in shaping the library’s future. As Casey (2011) argues, library users should be directly involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services. This collaborative model expands the library’s impact beyond access to information; instead, it fosters empathy, understanding, civility, and a spirit of sharing (Stephens, 2016).

So what does a participatory culture look like in a library setting? In practice, it means offering programs that do more than deliver information, so programs should actively invite people to engage, collaborate, and learn together. Take, for example, the Wheaton Public Library’s interactive support group for parents of children with autism (Tedrick, n.d.). In these sessions, families not only share their challenges and celebrate successes but also receive guidance from professionals at North Shore Pediatric Therapy. The impact is twofold: parents gain practical strategies while also benefiting from the emotional support of a shared community. This kind of peer-to-peer exchange strengthens learning because, as constructivist theory reminds us, “both the individual and the social context exert a profound influence on the learning process” (Booth, 2010, p. 38). Programs like this highlight how participatory service empowers libraries to personalize offerings in ways that reflect, and directly serve, the unique needs of their communities.

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash 

What makes participatory service like the one above so powerful is the belief that community members aren’t just users, but they are collaborators. It moves away from the idea that libraries hold all the answers and instead values the insight, imagination, and life experience that people already bring through the door. It is not about making things for the community, it is about making things with them. For many library professionals, that shift can feel daunting. As Stephens (2016) observes, the most common hesitation he hears is: We’ve always done it this way. Traditionally, librarians managed quiet spaces and guided patrons to the right shelf, but the world outside our walls has changed dramatically. Technology and society are evolving at lightning speed, and if libraries want to remain essential, we cannot afford to stand still in the midst of that storm. Staying relevant means embracing participatory culture by welcoming patrons not just as recipients of services, but as co-creators of them. It challenges us to ask: What unique contributions can our community bring to the library? How are we listening to those voices? And most importantly, how will we define success together?

Through participatory culture, libraries are uniquely positioned to create meaningful collaborations between staff and the public. By welcoming community members to contribute their perspectives, share their experiences, and help shape library offerings, the institution evolves into more than just an information hub, and it becomes a space for connection, empathy, and shared innovation. As society continues to evolve, libraries have the chance to adapt with their communities, rather than holding onto outdated models. Encouraging participation reinforces the idea that the library is a shared resource for all, helping it remain a dynamic, inclusive, and impactful space well into the future.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Now I am challenging you all. How have you seen participatory service in action at your local library? Does it exist? If not, then what ideas do you have for making libraries more collaborative and community-driven? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

References: 

Booth, C. (2010). Reflective teaching, effective learning: Instructional literacy for library educators. ALA Editions. 

Casey, M. (2011, October 20). Revisiting participatory culture in trying times. Tame The Web. https://tametheweb.com/2011/10/20/revisiting-participatory-service-in-trying-times-a-ttw-guest-post-by-michael-casey/ 

Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship. ALA Editions.

Tedrick, C. (n.d.). Support group: Caregivers of neurodivergent children. Wheaton Public Library. https://www.wheatonlibrary.org/event/support-group-parents-children-autism-97906 

Introducing Chelsea

Welcome everyone! My name is Chelsea Bradley, and I am in my final semester of the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program here at San Jose State University. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Forensics and Criminality from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). Over the past year and a half, I have worked as a Library Assistant at my hometown public library, which is the very same one I grew up visiting. Before that, I gained four years of valuable academic library experience at USC’s law and medical libraries. I am deeply passionate about education, information literacy, and the role of libraries as inclusive community and information hubs. As a first-generation, low-income college graduate, I am especially committed to supporting first-gen students as they navigate the challenges of collegiate research, writing, and information access. My goal is to help empower all individuals, regardless of background, with the tools and confidence to succeed through equitable and transformative library services. I believe this course will help me connect individuals from all walks of life with their various information needs. I cannot wait to learn together in this course!

From left to right: My nieces Pearl and Avery, myself, and a friend at Storytime at the library I now work at.

Besides the academic background and my career goals, these are some of my favorite things. Comment down below if we have anything in common!

  • Author: Kristin Hannah
  • Book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  • Drink: Coffee
  • Show: One Tree Hill
  • Singer: Taylor Swift