The Plant Librarian's Odyssey

When I think of a library, I envision a space filled with books and materials to borrow. It’s no secret that the library landscape has changed and continues to evolve rapidly due to COVID-19, budget cuts, new technology, and an increasingly diverse community. 49% of adults report reading one book in the past year, and AI is making rapid advancements (Iyendar, 2024, and U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2023). Libraries across the country and the world have adapted to these changes through the creation of Maker Spaces that offer 3-D Printers, sewing machines, Cricuts, a Soldering Iron, Recording Studios, and more (Allen County Public Library, 2025). In addition, the material collection has grown to include e-books and movies, kitchen utensils, instruments, and yard games (Allen County Public Library, 2025). Access to the physical and digital collections has increased with the adoption of fine-free policies (The City Library, 2018). While each of these changes has attempted to meet the needs of the community, what if that’s not enough? If the library wants to not just survive, but thrive, radical steps might need to be taken to ensure the library remains a valuable community space.   

What if the focus of the public library shifts from its collection to its spaces? Dorte Skot-Hansen (2017), in “Library Development: From Collection to Connection”, outlines the Four Space Model: The inspirational space, The learning space, The meeting space, and The performative space (Skot-Hansen, 2017). These spaces offer different environments that include a recording studio, community classes and lectures, a meeting space for the public to use, and access to a collection for learning and inspiration. The Spokane Public Library has tried to put this into practice through The Hive (The Spokane Public Library, n.d.-a). The Hive is a library building with no books. It offers public meeting and study spaces, studios with art and technology equipment, as well as studios that house in-resident artists. These artists stay for a period of time, from one month to six months, with the agreement to teach community programs based on their art skills (The Spokane Public Library, n.d.-b). From painting, welding, to carving, each artist is unique in what they offer the community.         

 

Another example of a library system that is putting the Four Space Model into action is the Memphis Public Libraries (MPL) (Grant, 2021). MPL completely flipped their libraries upside down in an attempt to reclaim their place as a valued community entity. They invested more than 1 million dollars to create a professional recording studio. MPL took old Redboxes and placed them around the city with books and materials to check out, along with information flyers. In addition, an outdoor yoga space has its own home at one of the branches, along with a cafe that will offer food and drinks. MPL also initiated a media campaign with local celebrities that framed the library as a “Start Here” place for learning, innovation, and discovery. The goal is to reshape how people view the library as just a quiet space with books. 

When I zoom out and think about the library system I work for, and how we can implement the Four Space Model, I think about our tweens. We have dedicated Children’s Spaces and Teen Spaces, but none of the branches, except for the Main Branch, has a tween space. There are a handful of branches that have a large tween presence after school. They love to play Minecraft and Roblox on the computers, but there isn’t anything else for them to interact with or learn from. Grant (2021) talked about the recording studio in MPL and how the teens use that space to create music, films, and more (Grant, 2021). Our tweens would love a space where they could create their own music, movies, video games, and apps. This would allow them to still interact with the games that they love, but also cultivate creative skills and open career options for them. 

I also love the idea of having an in-residence artist who would offer community classes in exchange for the space. This would provide opportunities for the artist to make new connections in the community, and for new art skills to be freely available through library programs. We have a small group of artists in my town who I can envision our library system partnering with to learn weaving, glassmaking, fiber arts, and more. What a cool way to make art accessible to everyone! This is the heart of The Four Space Model. It encourages public libraries to look beyond the collection and the traditional library services, to create an environment that is still built on learning and discovery, but with new tools.         

 

References 

Allen County Public Library. (2025-a). Library of things. https://www.acpl.lib.in.us/library-of-things  

Allen County Public Library. (2025-b). The studio. https://www.acpl.lib.in.us/the-studio 

The City Library. (2018, August 9). The fine free library: One year later. Medium. https://slcpl.medium.com/the-fine-free-library-one-year-later-d28c69743c15 

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  

Iyendar, S. (2024, October 3). Federal data on reading for pleasure: All signs show a slump. National Endowment for the Arts. https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2024/federal-data-reading-pleasure-all-signs-show-slump  

Skot-Hansen, D. (2017, August). Library development: From collection to connection. University of Copenhagen. https://287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4-Spaces-Model-from-Univ-Copoenhagen.pdf  

The Spokane Public Library. (n.d.-a). The hive. https://www.spokanelibrary.org/hive/ 

The Spokane Public Library. (n.d.-b) The hive: Artist-in-residence program. https://www.spokanelibrary.org/artist-residencies 

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2023, September 6). Artificial intelligence’s use and rapid growth highlight its possibilities and perils. https://www.gao.gov/blog/artificial-intelligences-use-and-rapid-growth-highlight-its-possibilities-and-perils 

“Hyperlinks are people, too”

-Michael Stephens in Hyperlinked Communities, n.d.

I  think when most people hear the term “hyperlinked libraries”, they envision a futuristic library filled with cutting-edge technology like the one I created below using Gemini (Google, 2025).

 Notice the drone in the top left corner and the robots in front of the shelves of books. However, as Michael Stephens points out in his lecture, “Hyperlinked Communities”, people are what make up a community as well as connections of related conversation (Stephens, n.d.). In this module, I loved exploring how libraries are meeting people where they are and are creating their own hyperlinked communities through truly unique and radical ideas. In “Heart of Librarianship”, Stephens (2016) described a library that turned their summer reading program upside down by opening it to the whole community instead of just children (Stephens, 2016, p. 42). This library also changed the focus of the reading program to a learning program. The library system I work for made this change two years ago, and the response from the public has been remarkable. Our participation numbers have increased, and people love the inclusivity of the program for their kids who are struggling learning to read, the caregivers with toddlers who are busy, busy, individuals who have disabilities, and the list goes on. People can still read if they want; however, acknowledging that all forms of learning are valuable is an example of a hyperlinked library community. 

Hyperlinked libraries mean involving the community so they feel ownership of their library. Nutt (2024) from NC State University Libraries shared how they included members of their community through sharing pictures of the Hunt Library on Instagram (Nutt, 2024). The result was hundreds of gorgeous pictures featuring the library and the people who use it. Hyperlinked libraries acknowledge that the library needs to keep up with technology changes; however, it needs to address all technology needs (Williams & Muller, 2021). Thousands of patrons in the US are without broadband internet and rely on the library for high-speed internet and their computers. Hyperlinked libraries also acknowledge that books remain an integral part of the library. During the COVID-19 pandemic, BookTok became a hyperlinked community, elevating books, such as “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” to the bestseller list (Jensen, 2022). I have seen BookTok affect the books that are getting borrowed from my local library and witnessed the increase of young people in Barnes and Noble.  

Another common misconception that I hear from people when I say I am working on an early literacy initiative is, “Can’t everyone afford books?” and “Doesn’t everyone have books?”. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. 32.4 million children in the US do not have access to books at home (Klinker, 2020). Read that number again. 32.4 million children. Access to books matters; it affects early literacy skills, which then affect success in school, and in turn, career opportunities. Diverse books matter (Klinker, 2020). Representation and inclusion affect self-esteem, confidence, and more. Many communities are without easy access to a public library. Some public libraries are trying to bridge this gap through hold lockers, similar to an Amazon package locker, where people can pick up holds and check out select items (Warner, 2024). My local library added a hold locker right outside the library so patrons can pick up their holds at any time. This is people-centered librarianship and, at its core, a hyperlinked library. It is evolving the library’s materials and resources to meet people where they are and to support their needs.         

 

References

Google. (2025). Gemini [Aug 30 version]. https://gemini.google.com/app/8831236c8001bd04?is_sa=1&is_sa=1&android-min-version=301356232&ios-min-version=322.0&campaign_id=skws&utm_source=sem&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-media&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=skws&utm_campaign=2024enUS_gemfeb&pt=9008&mt=8&ct=p-growth-sem-skws&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22748924156&gbraid=0AAAAApk5BhlxeuIH12ysFTTRMWgjKuK7L&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwsrFBhD6ARIsAPnUFD1AEQeHLV_NR8cza_VKKTOrtXUcup_S_ERXhIBT7b7LcqD_zacIjfoaAqQBEALw_wcB  

Jensen, K. (2022, February 10). As seen on #booktok: Inspiring young readers, tiktok is a boon for books. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/as-seen-on-booktok-inspiring-young-readers-tiktok-is-a-boon-for-books-libraries 

Klinker, J. (2020, July 24). The healing power of books: Using reading to address social and emotional needs. GALE Blog. https://blog.gale.com/the-healing-power-of-books/ 

Nutt, M. (2024). My #huntlibrary. NC State University Libraries. https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/projects/my-huntlibrary 

School Library Journal. (2019, February 1). Addressing book deserts: editorial. https://www.slj.com/story/addressing-book-deserts-editorial 

Stephens, M. (n.d.). Hyperlinked libraries [recorded lecture]. Canvas. https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=3eacdb23-84fd-49e5-9975-aef3014b3ed2 

Warner, L. (2024, January 17). Revolutionizing public libraries: Three ways that alternative service delivery strategies can meet the challenges of a booming population. https://medium.com/@lauracwarner/revolutionizing-public-libraries-ff7fed3d12c5   

Williams, A., & Muller, C. (2021, March 17). Libraries are bridging the digital divide. Internet Society. https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/03/libraries-are-bridging-the-digital-divide/

“Libraries should keep stories, share stories, and make stories.”

-Erik from DOK in Hyperlinked Library Participatory Service & Transparency (Stephens, n.d.)

This quote stood out to me and perfectly encapsulates what a participatory library should be: a living and breathing organism of people, not books or things, but a foundation of community. I have worked in libraries since I was a teenager, so I have witnessed the slow migration from libraries being a collection-based entity to one that has incorporated service-based products such as fax machines, printing, and Maker Spaces. It is essential to note that my library system is situated in a small Midwest town, where change does not occur quickly and is often met with resistance, not just from staff, but also from the community. Don’t get me wrong, I love books, but, as Michael Stephens noted, “Libraries are for people, not books” (Stephens, n.d.). This quote, along with Erik’s quote from DOK, is what drew me to participatory service, and I knew I needed to learn more. This post will explore participatory service and how it can be implemented in a library.  

As everywhere else in the world, my library’s circulation, reference questions, and door count continue to trend down, but numbers for non-reference-related services and e-books have risen in the past ten years. Librarianship and libraries are no longer just about books and reference (Stephens, 2016). If libraries and librarians do not wake up and adjust to meet the user’s needs, then the information profession risks becoming irrelevant, and libraries will have to close their doors. We have already seen this during COVID when some libraries refused to embrace virtual services. If libraries exist for the user and their needs, then libraries need to “transform the user experience to meet the user” (Schneider, 2006). My initial reaction to participatory service in libraries was to shout, “YES!”. (Sidebar: this reaction scared my partner and my dog, and they both looked at me like I was crazy.) I wholeheartedly believe that “The user is the sun” (Schneider, 2006). While my library system has some services that are participatory, such as a Seed Library and a Library of Things, we need to do more, and we need to shift the old internal message that the basis of a library is still books. After reading about so many different examples of participatory service, I think that participatory service could re-establish a library as the heart of the community.  

(Example of a Library of Things. This library offers tools, kitchen items, and children’s toys.)

I am currently working on a system-wide project that is installing a play-based early learning center for ages zero through five in each of our branches. I have loved working on this project, and I can see how participatory service could fit into this initiative. These spaces promote learning, which is fundamental to our library’s mission (Stephens, 2016, p. 99). We have incorporated themes and community elements into each playspace that are unique to each community, but I think we could go deeper, inviting the community into the early stages of planning and asking what the community wants to see through surveys and focus groups. Another way we could invite participatory service into our libraries is by providing passes to community attractions. Our patrons have asked our library system to carry free passes that they can check out to visit our local zoo, state parks, gardens, and more (Ferrell, 2022). After reading about the San Francisco Library’s free passes, I am wondering why we aren’t doing that. The answer staff have been given by managers is that local businesses are not willing to work with the public library. What do you do in situations like that? How do you get local businesses on board? As Stephen (n.d.) noted in his lecture, if libraries are adjusting to meet people’s needs, then they are going to go somewhere else that does (Stephens, n.d.). 

Like many library systems around the US, our library system is undergoing a series of budget cuts over the next months. This has placed more pressure on library staff to make sure that the library is seen as valuable and needed to the community. I think it is vital for my library to embrace participatory service not only to survive, but to flourish. I loved how the San Francisco Library is fundamentally changing how the library looks and what services they offer, such as making the staff space smaller to create a larger teen area, longer open hours for the homeless, and including Spanish storytime at a particular branch (O’Brian, 2019). Some libraries are embracing self-service branches where users can scan their library card to get access to the library outside of staff hours (Zulkey, 2019). Self-service hours can repurpose staff hours that normally would have been at the library’s physical location to serve the community in alternative places such as nursing homes and homeless shelters/communities. I see this being implemented at certain library locations in my community. We installed an outdoor item locker outside at one of our largest branches, and it was immediately a hit with the community. Users still want library materials; however, their work hours might overlap with the library’s, so they are unable to get their materials during regular hours. Another popular use is our wifi. We leave our wifi on 24 hours a day, and there are cars sitting outside the library daily so users can utilize the wifi. Why do users have to sit in their cars as opposed to having a section of the library available outside normal hours with comfortable seating?

(The video highlights participatory spaces as opposed to the physical collection, such as study spaces, 3-D printing, smart boards available to the students, and more.)

A comment I get frequently when people learn that I am a Librarian is, “You must like books!” or “It must be nice to read books all day.”. This scares me as an information professional looking towards the future. However, I draw hope from seeing the outpouring of community support during COVID, and the continued support in recent years as the library has fought to remain a safe and welcoming space with rich, diverse, and accessible materials, services, and resources. I also treasure the moments with children and their caregivers at a school outreach when they are so excited to tell me that they love their library. This is the library that I will continue to strive and fight for.      

 

References

O’Brian, C. (2019). How san francisco libraries are embracing their changing role. Shareable. https://www.shareable.net/how-san-francisco-public-libraries-are-embracing-their-changing-role/  

Schneider, K. (2006, June 3). The user is not broken. Free Range Librarian. https://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/06/03/the-user-is-not-broken-a-meme-masquerading-as-a-manifesto/   

Stephens, M. (2016). The heart of librarianship. ALA Editions. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/26cn6o86m5i0vcpcznebf/HeartofLibrarianship.pdf?rlkey=ozp68co4gmafmfvcu2tv4ec7p&e=1&dl=0  

Stephens, M. (n.d.). Hyperlinked library participatory service & transparency [lecture recording]. Canvas. https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=2a19a4b6-e945-4d2e-abf1-aef3014172a5 

Zulkey, C. (2019, September 3). Automatic for the people. American Libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/09/03/automatic-people-self-service-libraries/ 

Hello there! 

My name is Jenn, and I am excited to learn more about Hyperlinked Libraries this semester. I chose this class because I have observed the shift in libraries, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, toward online services and platforms. Add in there the explosion of AI, and I want to be equipped to serve my community and to keep up with the evolving skills that a librarian needs to market themselves in this job market. 

I am currently a Children’s Librarian in a public library, where I coordinate children’s programming, outreach, and community partnerships for our library system of 14 locations. I am in my last semester here at SJSU pursuing the Youth Pathway. It’s hard to believe that my MLIS journey is coming to a close, so I am determined to immerse myself in my classes and learn as much as I possibly can. 

Outside of librarianship, I love plants, reading, and knitting. I am currently knitting a sweater that I hope to finish by the time it gets cold here in the Midwest. I also have a small dog, named Auggie, who loves to hang out with me as I am working on my laptop. He is also a huge fan of treats, walks, and naps. I have included a picture of him below for cuteness. 

Thanks for reading! 

-Miss Jenn the Librarian