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Bethany M. Wyrick
LIS 655: Course Reflection
This course has helped me develop an optimistic outlook regarding the future of public libraries. I feel more confident about the core values of librarianship as well as shared goals between the library and the community it serves. Through instruction, coursework, readings, and class discussions, I have gained really valuable knowledge that I hope to utilize and apply in the future. I had been looking forward to this class for some time, and it has genuinely solidified my passion for public libraries. Although I do not currently work in a library, I loved interacting with my classmates who do; learning about their experiences has given me new perspective about the library profession.
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Public Libraries
I believe that librarians must be innovative, progressive, and open to new and ambitious ideas. In addition to meeting the needs of the public, librarians are also responsible for maintaining collections, advocating for funding, keeping up with current trends in the field, and so much more. Public libraries do so much for our community and they are crucial to the success of our democratic society. With so many people divided in our country, I hope that libraries can unite the public and continue to provide access to valuable, credible information and resources for everyone. Although this is not a comprehensive list, it covers several important topics related to public libraries.
Roles
Roles of Public Libraries & Librarians
As an institution, the library can play various roles in the community. Of course they are an access point for information and technology like computers, Wi-Fi, printers, etc. When natural disasters occur, they are place of refuge and safety. When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, the Harris County Public Library set up a pop-up library inside an evacuation center where they had storytimes, a 3D printer, and laptops so people could contact their families (Enoch Pratt Free Library, 2017). For homeless patrons, the library is a comfortable place to rest safely and at ease. For our partner presentation this semester, one of my classmates proposed a program for her library to work with mobile hygiene stations, which would give homeless patrons a place to shower and brush their teeth. Not to diminish the value of books, but libraries have so much more to offer than books alone. The library exists for whatever its community needs it to be, and I think that is incredibly inspiring.
Public librarians truly wear all the hats! No librarian has exactly the same job as another and experiences will differ based on multiple factors: location, budget, available staff, type of library, etc. The more commonly known roles include handling collections, customer service, program planning/coordinating, reference, outreach, social media coordination, and budget. Oftentimes, librarians must step into less-commonly known roles like counselors, mediators, or even babysitters. We had a guest speaker this semester discuss crisis management in libraries, which is not a concept I had any experience with. Sometimes just remaining open and continuing services and familiarity is helpful to the community in difficult times (Finch & Moody, 2020). Librarians must have a broad range of skills in addition to training in order to perform their jobs most efficiently. They must also have exceptional communication skills, patience with others, and a tenacious attitude to stay motivated in the field.
Principles
Public Library Principles
Customer Service: I worked multiple retail jobs as an undergrad and I always told myself, "Customer service is not for me." When people are blatantly rude to me, I have a knee-jerk reaction to speak up and fight back. Prior to taking any LIS classes, I would never have placed libraries in a customer service category. My opinion has changed dramatically after learning how important customer service is in this setting. Librarians have to constantly juggle two perspectives when evaluating their practices: what would be best for the library vs. what would be best for the user. Librarians should be cognizant of how their actions and behaviors affect patrons. They must be considerate, empathetic, and never condescending or judgmental. We want patrons to have positive experiences and friendly interactions, and in return, the library hopes to earn their loyalty. In class, we discussed various factors to set the stage for loyal customers: human interaction to create a sense of belonging; expertise and efficiency, because patrons want the most accurate, up-to-date information; diversity of information resources to meet the needs of our diverse population; and development of communication technologies so we can appeal to popular audiences and incorporate new technologies into our library practices. In his article, Lisker (2002) provides various customer service techniques and encourages librarians to envision their own ideal customer service interactions. Librarians should identify the values and services that stand out to them as positive, then use them to critique their own approaches to customer service. It's not always easy, but it is vital to the success of our libraries.
Equitable Access: Absolutely everyone should have access to information and resources within the library, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status. Equitable access is a core value of librarianship, and many institutions have taken steps to ensure they are meeting the needs of diverse patrons. Many libraries provide a level of access and inclusion by offering materials in multiple formats, providing ramps and wheelchair accessible desks, etc. In her study of public libraries and access for children with disabilities, Kaeding (2017) proposed an inclusive library model to address accessibility issues specifically for children and their families. I think that a lot of research is still being completed on this principle, but libraries are working diligently and always looking to improve. The ALA Equity of Access Statement is as follows:
"Equity of access means that all people have the information they need- regardless of age, education, ethnicity, language, income, physical limitations, or geographic barriers. It means they are able to obtain information in a variety of formats- electronic, as well as print. It also means they are free to exercise their right to know without fear of censorship or reprisal."
Issues
Issues in Public Libraries
Safety: I have not visited many libraries that have security guards on staff. In college, we may have had someone patrol after hours because the building was open to students 24/7. Patron safety is obviously always going to be a priority: the library should be a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone. A few of my classmates brought up their concerns with safety of the staff in their own libraries, and based on their stories, it seems like staff safety can sometimes be overlooked. I have learned how important it is to have emergency plans and procedures in place for various emergency scenarios, and we should plan proactively so that the staff is not blindsided if and when these occur. In our country today, there is unfortunately a lot of tension surrounding police presence due to police brutality and violence against black people. While this violence may not be directly library-related, it is important for libraries to stand firm in their mission to protect patrons. If patrons feel threatened by police presence, then having an armed guard in the library does not make that space safe or welcoming to them. Library Freedom Project Director Alison Macrina stated that there is no possible way to have intellectual freedom if police are in the building (Balzer, 2020). She noted that people often alter their behaviors when around police officers and some may feel like they cannot be their true selves in that type of environment. Libraries are starting to explore alternative options and de-escalation strategies so as not to involve law enforcement. However, we discussed in class that if libraries choose not to have an officer on guard or if they intentionally do not call the police in emergency situations, then the library staff must have specialized training to know how to handle these emergency situations. Preparation is definitely key.
COVID-19 recovery: Like many other businesses and organizations, libraries took a hit during the pandemic. While many had to shut down or close their doors to the public, those that remained open had to drastically adjust their programs and services to meet these new remote needs of their users. Shumaker (2021) refers to our now post-pandemic era as "the next normal," and predicts that libraries will never return to their previous pre-COVID practices. Based on trends and our current state, I think a lot of people anticipate an exclusively digital future for libraries. I also think this issue stems from widespread absence of preparation: no one could have predicted a global pandemic and the major impact it would have on public libraries across the world. But they made the best of this situation and were great support systems for their community members. Yelvington (2020) mentioned several changes that Houston Public Libraries had to implement as a result of COVID-19 safety protocols, such as live and on-demand online programming (including storytime, summer reading programs, and book discussions), and curbside pick-up services for materials like laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots, which often have long waiting lists. With that in mind, libraries will need additional funding to be able to purchase these materials to keep up with the increased demand, especially if this is the next normal.
Trends
Trends and Such in Public Libraries
"Weird" materials to borrow: If something is labeled as "weird," you already have my attention. I think the traditional view of libraries is that they are boring and outdated, which is due to the fact that people don't know what the library has to offer! There has to be maximum effort in getting the word out about what we have the potential to do. Community members have needs, and libraries are jumping at the chance to identify those needs and offer materials and resources to meet them. I literally want to run around to all my co-workers to tell them, "Did you know that libraries did this?!" For example, Butor (2017) mentions several non-traditional items that you can check out at various libraries, and they are all incredibly cool. Sign me up for the Therapy Pets Program at the Monroe Library at New Orleans Loyola University, please.
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Animal skeletons ​(Alaska Resources Library offers skulls along with educational science kits to learn about animals)
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People (Living Libraries have apparently become popular; you can check out someone to speak to about specific topics or experiences)
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Santa Suits (Bolivar County Library in Mississippi notes that these are in high demand)
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Prom Dresses (Dallas Public Library, Gilbert Public Library, and the Elmwood Public Library, all in Illinois)
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Dogs (New Orleans Loyola University offers therapy dogs to check out for students experiencing stress or anxiety)
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Musical Instruments (Forbes Library in Massachusetts offers instruments on loan; Seattle Public Library has a music practice room)
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Libraries have to be willing to venture outside of the norm. Services should be bold, adventurous, engaging, but also useful and educational.
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