4 Blog Posts
By Leahann Pasquariello
Work Cited
Wolk, Martin. "BOOK REVIEW; Libraries evolve beyond books; Susan Orlean, the debut author in The Times Book Club, sees a bright future for these community hubs." Los Angeles Times, Jun 23, 2019. ProQuest, https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/book-review-libraries-evolve-beyond-books-susan/docview/2244915709/se-2?accountid=35685.
4 Blog Posts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOeBLhs5Jko
Libraries have a rich history of providing communities with knowledge and resources for all people. However, there is still a need to assist the homeless population. In the article, The Problem is Not the Homeless, the author states that “libraries need to offer services tailored to the homeless.” Some may wonder what those services may look like, and this article sheds light on a pilot program they have implemented. For example, they provide access to audiobooks that can teach job interview skills. Furthermore, the author states, “quarterly visits to the Gathering Place, a day shelter for homeless and low-income women, is used to acquaint women with technology and the library.” This access to resources can empower women who are in need.
In regards to meeting their basic needs, such as hygiene. The article states that “haircuts have been offered and a dental office with oral hygiene supplies. Nursing students and professors attend the mealtimes to provide screenings to the participants.” While the instinctual solution to help them would be to equip them with the skills to get a job. However one participant in the article states, “to do the things you want to show us, we need certain things first. How can I get a job when I'm not shaved and don’t have proper clothes.” To best serve this need, this program is a step forward in “giving them a seat at the table” to support this disenfranchised population and set them up for success.
Lillienthal, Stephen M. "The Problem is Not The Homeless." Library Journal, vol. 136, no. 11, 15 June 2011, pp. 34+, www.libraryjournal.com/story/the-problem-is-not-the-homeless?subpage=Advocacy,Marketing.
"Poor and/or Homeless Library Patrons." American Library Association, 21 Nov. 2012,
doi:270b44a5-e2bb-c834-213f-4f72ffaee92b
Libraries and Student Success: A Campus Collaboration with High Impact Educational Practices
Many Academic libraries want to continue to show their dedication to ensure their student's success. This article, published in 2015, demonstrates their educational practices to help improve their students persistence. These practices are ensured to gain information about the students service and learning skills.
These practices are very effective to help the students learn to work together with their classmates and their professor on the issues that they have been given to work on.
Citation: Crowe , Kathryn M. “Libraries and Student Success: A Campus ... - UNCG.” Libraries and Student Success: A Campus Collaboration with High Impact Educational Practices, Mar. 2015, https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/K_Crowe_Libraries_2015.pdf.
4 Blog Posts
By Leahann Pasquariello
In downtown Seattle the public library permits the homeless to have free unlimited access to the Internet. It was back in July of 1993 when Seattle initially provided Internet access to the public and was the first to lead the way for other major cities to follow the same path. Of the regular patrons at this branch of the library, there is a particular homeless group, given the name The Internetters, who are noticeably the most enthusiastic users of this library resource. “They don’t have physical addresses but can be reached in cyberspace.” (Eng). The ability to access the information superhighway is in many ways an advantage for the homeless. “The Netters” have become so adept on the Internet that they are even able to leave the library’s menu system and connect with other public terminals on the worldwide Internet. For them this opened the door to email, databases, games, bulletin boards, chat lines, and many other useful and entertaining resources. The library’s coordinator adds that The Netters helped coach staff and patrons on Internet use.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services reveals that more Americans sought health information from their local library instead of their doctor. “The Pew Research Center in 2016 reported that 38% of people using libraries did so to seek out health information.” (Wahowiak). Since libraries are a free and accessible source to all, including the homeless, it makes sense that they team with public health and education programs, in an approach towards community engagement. Library staff, with backgrounds in public health, at the Queens Library in New York City organized 600 health events across the library’s 53 locations (Wahowiak). Librarians are not healthcare professionals but can offer information to questions that are related to healthcare.
Work Cited
Eng, James L. "Some Seattle Homeless Go Joy Riding on the Information Superhighway Computers: The downtown library allows the public free hookup on Internet, and those who have nothing but time spend hours tinkering on the worldwide network.: [Bulldog Edition]." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext), Sep 04, 1994, pp. 4. ProQuest, https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/some-seattle-homeless-go-joy-riding-on/docview/292986078/se-2?accountid=35685.
In the past a librarian’s role has been to assist patrons in the form of reference service. Library staff would provide information, to the best of their ability, for the questions their patrons are asking. Today, with digital resources and the use of the Internet, the role of the library staff has evolved. Now library users have the ability to self check-out items and conduct their own search of materials and answers to questions. Thanks to the proliferation of powerful technologies, however, many individuals now attempt to seek information on their own first, in a vast morass of websites, social media, apps, blogs, wikis (including Wikipedia), videos, podcasts, and more, all vying for eyeballs. (Miller).
With the amount of information available, it can be an overwhelming task for students to sort through it all and find reliable information. More often these days library staff provide students and other patrons support by guiding them as they learn to navigate a search. This has become a more common practice in place of simply providing answers. Academic libraries have transitioned away from reference desks and towards consultation models, embedded librarianship, peer learning, learning commons, the physical and virtual structure of reference practice has evolved to support student learning and inquiry (Miller). We must continue to document and demonstrate the powerful link between student success, educational enrichment, and well-supported school libraries (Neal).
Miller, Robin E. "Reference consultations and student success outcomes." Reference & User Services Quarterly, vol. 58, no. 1, 1 Sept. 2018, pp. 16-21. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, doi:10.5860/rusq.58.1.6836.
Neal, Jim. "Fight for School Libraries: Student success depends on them." American Libraries, 1 Mar. 2018, pp. 4+. EBSCOhost.
Shaw, Marie K. Library Technology and Digital Resources; An Introduction for Support Staff. Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield, 2016, p. 4.
"Thurgood Marshall Middle School - The Library is the Heart of the School." youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKwePnkjGgM.
Libraries know there are two sides to social networking, patrons and libraries. For instance, the library utilizes social media to provide vital information to reach the community about library activities, programs, and features. Additionally, it can also offer an interactive platform for the public. This can help build relationships and promote library events, resources, and assistance. The library's social networking is a proven effective tool in reaching the community.
However, it is challenging to protect minor patrons' right to privacy and confidentiality when using social media on library computers. The safety of minors is a serious concern. We have a responsibility to provide an environment that helps prevent bullying, abuse, and other social dangers conducive to social networking sites. “Libraries have chosen, at times, to value privacy over access to social networks when these are in conflict,” writes Jason Griffey in an ALA, Social Networking and the Library. He further implies that one answer would be to regulate access by limiting the duration to ensure safety is not compromised with social networks. The very nature of social networking is being social; however, we want to foster a sense of community rather than harbor conflict.
Work Cited
Griffey, Jason. "Social Networking and the Library." ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom et al., Nov. 2010, pp. 34-37,
journals.ala.org/index.php/ltr/article/view/4710/5605.
Kalam Siddike, Md.Abul, and K. Kiran. “Marketing of Academic Library Services through Social Networking
Sites: Implications of Electronic Word-of-Mouth.” Education for Information, vol. 31, no. 3, July 2015,
pp. 143–59. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.3233/EFI-150955.
Mallia, Ġorġ. “The Library’s Role in Social Networking Site Use in Education.” Against the Grain, vol. 26, no.
4, Sept. 2014, pp. 32–36. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.7771/2380-176X.6907.School libraries are one of the most accessible places for students to find resources that help them achieve success. Instilling children with a love of reading from a young age can make it easier for them to interact with school reading assignments and develop interests that can help them in academic spaces. Libraries also contain an essential social element that can help them with projects that involve others, which prepares them for individual and group assignments.
Certain programs, such as ones that highlight subjects such as Black History Month and sexual educatoin, are about “getting kids to see different perspectives” (Cockcraft). By giving students the opportunity to learn more about those around them, libraries teach students tools about not just academic subjects, but social and societal ones as well. This gives them a wider perspective with which to interact with the world. One librarian states that in a high school book club, the group read a book of poetry and then “talked about the students’ favorite poems in the book and how different losses may affect one’s life” (McKee). By teaching students how to relate literature with their own life in a respectful and meaningful way, it allows them to understand how to engage with academia in a deeperl way.
Encouraging students to enjoy reading and consuming information is also crucial to their academic success. This can be achieved by providing them with alternatives to traditional methods of reading. Plymouth Regional High School, for example, was able to provide Kindles to students who found them easier to read on or with limited space to store books (Harland).
Many students found more success using these tablets instead of traditional books, which ignited interest in reading even for students who did not enjoy reading before. They were also helpful for comprehension, allowing them to highlight passages in books and easily make notes about difficult course materials they were studying in school (Harland). By providing a variety of options that benefited the different needs of individual students, libraries were able to help students study to their fullest ability.
Students all have different needs when it comes to learning and reading, and the better equipped a library is to deal with a wide variety of people, the more successful the students visiting them can be.
Works Cited
Cockcraft, Marlaina. “Real Talk with Teens.” School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 1, Jan. 2020, p. 20. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=141024624&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Harland, Pam, et al. “The High School Book Club--Now With Kindles!” Teacher Librarian, vol. 37, no. 5, June 2010, pp. 57–59. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=52571267&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
McKee, Beverly. “Adventures with a High School Book Club.” Library Media Connection, vol. 23, no. 4, Jan. 2005, pp. 44–46. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=16537476&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
4 Blog Posts
The library is a community gathering place. This Hub fosters a sense of community and encourages a participatory culture. This is executed by providing programs, meeting space, computer access, and resources in order to respond to a wide array of community needs. Furthermore, “A good library works a lot like a harbor. It provides a place where people can dock themselves for a while, socialize with others, and feel some comfort and security.” says Librarian Stephen Coronella of Vermont public library. In addition, Ed McMahon of the US Urban Land Institute states that “Libraries, like city halls and post offices, are a key to strong communities.”
I agree that libraries serve as social hubs even at the middle school level. We open our doors to students to facilitate free time and enjoyment before school, during lunchtime, and after school with activities, reading, and entertainment and provide assistance with computers, book checkouts, and printing. Our neutral space offers social equality, diversity, creativity, and accessibility. As Wayne Senville writes, “Libraries and community, they really are inseparable.”
Work Cited
Chin, Louie. To Restore Civil Society, Start with the Library. 2010, New York Times.
www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/civil-society-library.html.
HOWLEY, BRENDAN. “Libraries as Values-Driven Participatory Culture Hubs.” Information Today,
vol. 35, no. 5, June 2018, pp. 15–16. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=130182780&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
"Public libraries provide valuable meeting spaces." American Library Association, 29 Feb. 2012,
pp. 54+, doi:dff4410a-cb3c-c0e4-91e4-0c60a920abef. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.
Public libraries provide valuable meeting spaces
Senville, Wayne. “Public Libraries: The Hub of Our Communities.” APLIS, vol. 22, no. 3, Sept. 2009, pp. 97–103.
How Librarians are Helping the Unhoused
The population for unhoused people has been increasing with a report from the U.S. Department of Housing of a 2%. They began to gain refuge in local libraries during the day time, since libraries are the only welcoming and free place to spend your day, provide you with free internet access, air conditioning, and public restrooms. They choose to spend their days in libraries since not many places, even shelters, allow you to stay during daytime.
Because of this increase in the population, it is their responsibility to cater to their needs. Though they are allowed inside libraries as customers, they must not drug or alcohol abuse whilst in the library.
Libraries help the homeless by hosting events to gain information to provide the homeless with housing assistance and food. These events helped bring the Department of Mental Health, Public Social Services, Public Health and housing services providers to provide valuable information for the homeless.
Librarians are trained to help assist the homeless and for futer situations on how to deal with the drug and alcohol abuse. Although they cannot solve their homelessness, they try their best to make them feel welcome and safe in their library. However, with the increase of homeless people seeking refuge in libraries, this has made many local demand them to be gone.
Citation: Lee, Jean Kuo. “How Libraries Are Helping the Unhoused.” BOOK RIOT, 16 Nov. 2021, https://bookriot.com/how-libraries-are-helping-the-unhoused/.
Libraries provide a connection to communities and give people a multitude of ways to meet with others with similar interests. They are a “‘neutral ground,’ where people gather to discuss, interact, and enjoy the company of those they know” (Heeger). While we often think of libraries as quiet spaces, it is important to note that there is an important social factor to them.
Libraries provide a community area that is available to everyone. Older people in particular are drawn to library spaces to interact with other people and participate in programs that emphasize interaction. The Denver Public Library has created a “senior hangout” space modeled after the library’s preexisting teen programs in order to “keep them young at heart” (Choquette). There, they can interact with other adults their age and participate in group exercise classes and generally hang out and communicate with one another.
While it is important to have individualized programs for certain age groups, it is equally important to have programs and events that involve all ages, such as volunteer work and accessible games available such as cards. Social programs that encourage socialization between every member of a community ensure that “everyone who attends is on the same level, regardless of their background” (Choquette). Libraries have a unique opportunity to bring everyone together and embrace their differences.
Works Cited
Choquette, Joy. “Aging Masterfully: Libraries Support Older Adults with Senior-Specific Wellness Programming.” American Libraries, vol. 52, no. 6, June 2021, pp. 16–17. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=150628776&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Heeger, Paula Brehm. “A Tie for Third Place.” School Library Journal, vol. 52, no. 7, July 2006, p. 27. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=21447196&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Harijan, Amisha, and Sean Everett. “Teen Podcasting in the Library.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 17, no. 1, Fall 2018, pp. 31–34. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=135603260&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
4 Blog Posts
By Leahann Pasquariello
Social networking is the use of websites or applications to connect other users through common interests. Users join a social network by building a personal profile online and finding new friends with a shared interest. In the past the actual library has been at the center of serving its community of patrons. As advances in technology continue to grow, so do the digital resources that are now accessible outside of the library walls. “Social networking sites are being used by libraries to establish an online presence in order to tap into the new generation of library user.” (Osborne, 2009 p. 47). There is a growing number of teens that use social networking online. Libraries can use this opportunity to promote their services to this population of patrons by networking with them in the same manner these young patrons connect with new friends.
Librarians need to play a proactive role and utilize social network tools as a form of outreach. It is up to the library to reach out to the teenage population, and not wait for them to appear. Many libraries have established a presence online by providing links to popular social network sites. Patrons are now able to access sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as YouTube, from the library’s homepage. Librarians are able to create different types of FB Group, Profile, or Organization pages. Their goal is to engage their patrons, build or expand into larger groups, and to further enhance the connection they have with the teenage library user.
Work Cited
Balas, Janet L. "Social Networks and the Library Community." Computers in the libraries, vol. 28, no. 4, Apr. 2008, pp. 40+. EBSCOhost.
Young Adult Library Services Association. (2009). Teens & social networking in school and public libraries: A toolkit for librarians & library workers. Retrieved from http://www.ila.org/netsafe/SocialNetworkingToolkit.pdf
Polish university libraries social networking services during the COVID-19 pandemic spring term lockdown
Libraries social networking have become very essential, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown. The sole purpose of this article is to share how 18 Polish university libraries engange with their users on social media. They used social media as a way to promote their library as well as to engange with their users and other libraries on the internet.
Citation: Gmiterek, Grzegorz. “Polish University Libraries Social Networking Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic Spring Term Lockdown.” Redirecting, May 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102331.
