human library | The Hyperlinked Era

As I look back on my journey through this course, I am surprised by how much my understanding of libraries has transformed. What began as a child, a simple appreciation for books and quiet study spaces, has evolved into a deep recognition of libraries as dynamic ecosystems of learning, empathy, and connection. Each of my blog reflections represents a different strand of this interconnected web. Together, they form a picture of what the modern library truly is: a living, breathing network of people, stories, and possibilities.

Relationships psychology concept abstract illustration with couple human heads silhouettes isolated on white background. Vector eps 10 illustration — Photo from Getty Images. (2023, May 3). Accessed via Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/illustrations/relationships-psychology-concept-abstract-illustration-with-couple-human-heads-silhouettes-isolated-on-white-background-vector-eps-10-illustration-4SIwBlKD8JA

In From Stacks to Stars: Exploring the Library’s Expanding Universe, I began to see libraries not just as repositories, but as responders, or places attuned to the evolving needs of their communities. From libraries lending telescopes to offering social support like diapers or literacy programs, I saw that the library’s power lies in how it serves the community. I really resonated with Casey and Savastinuk’s (2007) vision of Library 2.0, or participatory, ever-changing, and rooted in user voices. This realization marked a shift in my thinking from seeing libraries as static institutions to understanding them as collaborative networks of care.

Later on in The Library Reimagined: A Hyperlinked Environment for Growth and Discovery, I deepened my understanding of Library 2.0 by exploring how design and space shape human experience. Drawing on Skot-Hansen’s (2017) framework, I began to view the library as a constellation of inspirational, learning, meeting, and performative spaces. The example of Memphis’s Cloud901 studio revealed that when libraries blend technology and human connection, they empower people to create culture, not just consume it (Grant, 2021). This insight helped me see that every library space, whether physical or digital, is part of a larger hyperlinked environment, one where creativity and collaboration thrive.

a piece of cardboard with writing on it — Photo from Zaric, M. (2022, June 3). Accessed via Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-piece-of-cardboard-with-writing-on-it-9iFxTVTiKag

My post on The Next Chapter of Librarianship: Caring for the Whole Person brought me to another facet of the hyperlinked library, or what it means to serve the whole person. The Salt Lake City Public Library’s integration of social work services reminded me that libraries are often the last truly open, public spaces where everyone belongs (Harkins, 2023). Through this example, I began to understand librarianship as both humanistic and hyperlinked, a practice grounded in empathy, equity, and connection. My personal experiences, from being a student who found refuge in the library to now leading storytime, have affirmed this vision. Libraries have always been my home, but now I see them as homes for humankind.

People admire a large globe in a grand library — Photo from Hunko, A. (2025, August 20). Accessed via Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/people-admire-a-large-globe-in-a-grand-library-B69I5gPsias

I then found Magic in Every Story when I reconnected with the emotional heart of librarianship: storytelling. Stories are how we make meaning of the world, and libraries are the vessels that carry them. Through concepts like Bishop’s (1990) “mirrors and windows” and the Human Library model (Wentz, 2013), I saw that storytelling is an act of empathy and empowerment. Libraries today don’t just keep stories, they make and share them. This understanding reminded me that every user, every voice, and every narrative has a place in the library’s ongoing story.

Finally, in The Library of Everything: Exploring Infinite Learning in Modern Spaces, I explored how libraries are becoming platforms for lifelong learning and creativity. Whether through makerspaces, flipped learning models, or self-directed discovery, libraries embody Stephens’ (2014) concept of infinite learning, spaces where curiosity never ends. My childhood memory of learning piano from a borrowed book symbolizes this perfectly, since the library is an open invitation to learn, explore, and grow without boundaries.

group of readers with books in hands characters vector illustration design — Photo from Getty Images. (2023, April 23). Accessed via Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/illustrations/group-of-readers-with-books-in-hands-characters-vector-illustration-design-ERW1nBerH-w

Across all these reflections, a clear theme emerges in that the library is no longer just a place, but it is a relationship. It is where empathy meets innovation, where stories meet technology, and where communities meet possibility. My vision for the future of librarianship is one where libraries continue to evolve as hyperlinked networks of care. As I move forward in my career, I carry with me a commitment to being both a humanistic and a hyperlinked librarian, or one who leads with empathy, listens deeply, and designs services that reflect the diverse lives of the people I serve. Libraries have always been about connection, but now I understand that connection itself is the service.

the word together spelled with scrabble tiles on a wooden surface — Photo from Ling App. (2023, January 12). Accessed via Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/the-word-together-spelled-with-scrabble-tiles-on-a-wooden-surface-qo455fyS_Vw

References

Bishop, R. S. (1990). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, 6(3). https://readteachwrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/mirrors-windows-and-sliding-glass-doors.pdf

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

Grant, R. (2021, November). How memphis created the nation’s most innovative public library. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3g4juvioz86g1m2uj529i/How-Memphis-Created-the-Nation-s-Most-Innovative-Public-Library-Innovation-Smithsonian-Magazine.pdf?rlkey=25yzrxk37civvks7bg6hwaafs&e=1&dl=0

Harkins, P. (2023, June 20). Salt Lake City downtown library’s new social worker has already helped thousands. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/06/20/salt-lake-city-downtown-librarys/

Skot-Hansen, D. (2017, August). Library development: From collection to connection. University of Copenhagen.

Stephens, M. (2014, November 26). Y Library? Making the case for the library as space for infinite learning. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4zt1yliwb2ffzr8euix2p/YLibraryInfiniteLearning.pdf?rlkey=m0v6lkd43ufilkp5aktawhlpr&e=1&dl=0

Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted librarianship: Finding hope, inspiration, and balance. ALA Editions.

Wentz, E. (2013, April 26). The human library: Sharing the community with itself. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/human_librar/

Western Governors University. (2020, July 21). What is humanistic learning theory in education? https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-humanistic-learning-theory-education2007.html

My love for reading started early, long before I understood how deeply books could shape a person. I can still picture myself as a child, standing in front of my local library’s catalog computer, typing in “magic tricks.” To my astonishment, the results revealed an entire section devoted to magic. That discovery felt like unlocking a secret world, and it was the moment I fell in love with reading. Every book since then has left its mark on me, adding small but meaningful layers to who I am today. Now, as an adult, I find myself wanting to share that same wonder with others and to help them see how stories can transform, heal, and connect us.

This week’s readings reignited that early sense of awe and reminded me that libraries are more than buildings filled with books; they are living spaces filled with people, each carrying their own untold story. As Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop (1990) famously said, literature serves as both mirrors and windows, with mirrors that reflect our own lives, and windows that reveal experiences beyond our own.

Taken directly from McGree, P. & Pappas, E. (2021, September 2). 24 Positive teacher resources. We Are Teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/positive-teacher-resources/

When I was young, Junie B. Jones and Ramona Quimby taught me to be bold, outspoken, and unapologetically myself. Later, through the emotional landscapes of Kristin Hannah’s novels, I began to grasp the human cost of war and the resilience born from pain. Her stories were not just entertainment, but they were lessons in empathy and identity, quietly shaping how I saw myself and others.

Taken directly from: Bright, D. (n.d.). June B. Jones. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/414612709422315293/. A direct quotation from Barbara Park’s Junie B Jones.

Libraries have always been guardians of stories, but their role continues to evolve. We are no longer merely stewards of information; instead, we are facilitators of storytelling. Modern libraries empower people to find their voices, to connect through shared narratives, and to recognize themselves as part of a broader human story. The motto of the DOK Library, “Keep stories, make stories, share stories”, (Boekesteijn, n.d.) captures this spirit perfectly. Libraries today are vibrant, participatory spaces where stories come alive through conversation, technology, and creativity. From Human Library events to podcast studios and community archives, libraries are redefining what it means to tell and preserve stories in the digital age.

The Human Library model, as Wentz (2013) describes, is a powerful example of this evolution. Sitting face-to-face with another person and listening openly to their lived experience transforms storytelling into a bridge of empathy. In those moments, the library ceases to be a quiet repository and becomes a living sanctuary for understanding and a place where every story, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary, holds value.

Looking back on my own journey, from the child captivated by a shelf of magic books to the adult who now finds magic in human connection, I see that libraries have always been about transformation, and they give us access to one another. Every shared story has the power to shift how we see ourselves and the world around us.

As library professionals and advocates, it is our responsibility (and privilege) to nurture that magic. Let us continue to build spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. When we honor every kind of story, we do more than preserve knowledge, because we strengthen the bonds of community and remind one another of our shared humanity. So, what is your story? What moment, book, or experience shaped who you are today? Leave a comment down below!

References:

Boekesteijn, E. (n.d.). A culture of innovation at DOK and Doklab. https://www.culturehive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/A-culture-of-innovation-at-DOK-and-Doklab-final-2.pdf

Wentz, E. (2013, April 26). The human library: Sharing the community with itself. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/human_librar/

The Hyperlinked Era

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