They say everything happens for a reason. Back in 2020, I couldn’t join the program due to its cancellation, but maybe it was for the best — perhaps now I’m better prepared to make the most of this experience and to have the honor of meeting such wonderful people.
The week has been so intense that there was barely time to settle in or reflect. Fortunately, Clara and Peggy guide us through this by summarizing the sessions and giving us space for reflection and self-work.
Libraries Unbound: open, inclusive, engaged gave us the chance to explore different concepts. We realized that open is not just about free access to documents — nd that commitment is at the heart of each approach — unbound, open, and engaged.
One of my key takeaways is the importance of looking at each team member individually and thinking about what they expect from me: recognition, a job well done, clarity, support with challenges, etc. We are diverse, and that diversity is a strength that completes the team.
It’s amazing how much we can learn from small things. Good practices aren’t always big projects — they can be as simple as a brochure that responds to users’ needs, or a university library creating a space for families. It’s also encouraging to see that we’re already doing many thingsvery well.
The “Buddy Librarian” initiative truly touched me. These librarians have no obligation to give us their time, and yet they do so gladly. I honestly feel I don’t deserve the privilege of having Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe as my buddy, but I’m endlessly grateful.
We’ve been introduced to numerous tools that help us reflect on the future of libraries — our libraries, to be precise: The IFLA Trend Report 2024, The Futures Wheel, and the GREAT Customer Service Guidelines, to name a few.
During our visit to OCLC headquarters, we learned how libraries themselves contributed to documents defining the New Model Library or explaining how Improving Open Access Discovery for Academic Library Users. Peggy also encouraged us to think critically: are all voices represented? It seems Africa and South America haven’t had much participation yet.
Visiting the Westerville Public Library was such a refreshing experience! The energy, dynamism, and love for serving each member of the community were contagious. It reminded us that the user should always be at the heart of our work and our decisions.
Finally, I want to thank all my fellow participants for the warm welcome, and express my gratitude to Barbara, Amani, Clara, Peggy, Emily, the entire Mortenson Center team, and the librarians and instructors who have shared this incredible first week with us — and those yet to come.