It is difficult to believe that we are already halfway through the program. Time flies when you are learning new skills, discovering new places, meeting new people, encountering new ideas and perspectives – and having a lot of fun at the same time.
Week 2 has been extremely busy, especially with our trip to Chicago, which started very early on Thursday morning – or rather, during the night ? – and ended with our return “home” to Champaign-Urbana on Friday. I have already heard so many of my fellow Mortenson Associates calling it home, and I think I am beginning to understand why.
MONDAY, JUNE 8
Siebel Center for Design (SCD)
At the Siebel Center for Design, we focused on the “Understanding” stage of SCD’s Human-Centered Design Taxonomy. We learned how important it is to begin with empathy, careful listening, and observation, rather than jumping to conclusions or rushing immediately into action.
This resonated with me right away. I am a problem-solver by nature, and my instinctive reaction to almost every problem is: “I have to fix this now.” The session reminded me that, in many situations, the most useful first response is not to fix, but to listen. Showing empathy without immediately interrupting, interpreting, or offering solutions – and simply allowing silence to breathe, as Ana Wolf and Dawn Bohn put it – is an important skill in almost every professional context, whether or not we consciously think of ourselves as “designing” something.
SCD’s Human-Centered Design Taxonomy. Available at https://designcenter.illinois.edu/research
It was also fascinating to learn how SCD has used AI to generate personas for practising library interviews. We had the chance to chat with several of these personas, and I have to admit that the responses felt surprisingly realistic. I can see how this approach could be very useful before conducting actual interviews with real patrons. It offers a safe space to practise asking better questions, listening more carefully, and avoiding assumptions.
While at SCD we reflected on the value of listening to and observing users actively, including through the use of AI technology. Later, at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, we saw a very practical demonstration of how to create our own AI agent without the need to code. I already had some knowledge of chatbot development, as I had previously worked on creating a website chatbot, but I had not tried creating a custom GPT before.
I used this demonstration as an opportunity, and within several minutes I managed to create two custom GPTs. Later that same evening, I added more data, documents, and instructions to both of them. They are designed to support HR-related work: one as an assistant to help staff at my library find internal HR and brand-related information and documents, such as leave request forms, brand colours and logos, and workplace safety documentation; and the other to help managers and the HR expert create onboarding schedules, welcome guides, and similar materials.
I was also fascinated by CITL’s X3 Studio, particularly their work in XR and VR experience development. The technology they have invested in it is impressive, and so is the expertise of the people working in the studio. We had a live demonstration and hands-on experience with a VR application developed to help medical practitioners prepare before a live surgical procedure. Most of us had not tried VR headset before, so this was great fun.
We also had our first experience with podcasting. We took turns discussing in groups, questions around AI, how libraries affect people’s lives, and what creating impact really means. Practising in front of a microphone was exciting, but what interested me even more was learning about the process behind it: what hardware and software are suitable, how to start on a modest budget, and how we might build a similar recording space at our own institutions.
This experience reminded me that learning does not have to be difficult, formal, or imposed. It can be practical, collaborative, hands-on, and even playful. Thinking about our own users, we should aim to build environments that help them develop new skills and confidence through direct experience – whether by experimenting with new technology, recording a podcast, trying VR for the first time, or simply learning in a space that feels welcoming and encouraging.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
Program Logic Model
Lisa Hinchliffe’s session on the Program Logic Model was one of the most useful and immediately applicable sessions for me. The model provides a clear way to depict the logical relationships between a program’s resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact. In other words, it helps us think carefully about what we invest, what we do, what we produce, what changes as a result, and what longer-term impact we hope to achieve.
What I found particularly helpful is that the model encourages us to examine the “if–then” relationships within a program. If we have these resources, then we can carry out these activities. If we carry out these activities, then we can produce these outputs. If these outputs are meaningful and well-designed, then they should lead to certain outcomes and, eventually, broader impact.
I can see myself using this framework whenever we plan a new activity at my library, but also on a broader level to assess overall library performance and identify gaps. Two simple but powerful questions stayed with me: Did we do what we set out to do? And even if we did it, how well did we do it?
For me, this is strongly connected to the idea of strategy-driven libraries. Strategy is not only about having a plan; it is also about being able to explain how our actions lead to meaningful results and how we know whether we are making a difference.
Environmental Scanning
The next session, on Environmental Scanning with Clara Chu, connected very naturally with the Program Logic Model. It focused on a key part of strategic planning: the ongoing effort to identify trends, signals, and internal or external forces that may affect a library, a service, or a project.
This session reminded me that no organization operates in isolation. Every library is shaped by its wider context – technological, social, economic, institutional, political, and cultural. Some of these forces are within our control, but many are not. Emerging technologies such as AI and VR, changing user expectations, demographic shifts, government policies, funding models, and developments in higher education can all influence how libraries operate and what they need to become.
The important lesson for me was that we should not simply react to these changes when they become urgent. We need a more systematic approach to noticing them, discussing them, and deciding how to respond. Environmental scanning can help libraries move from reactive decision-making to more thoughtful and anticipatory planning.
ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries has identified a number of trends that affect the way libraries operate. I was curious to explore one of their 2018 report and reflect on which trends are already visible in my own context, which may not yet be widely discussed in my country or university, and which may become more relevant in the near future.
This is another very practical tool I would like to take back with me. It can help us look beyond our immediate daily tasks and ask: What is changing around us? What might affect our users? What opportunities are emerging? What risks should we prepare for? And how can the library respond in a strategic rather than accidental way?
Strategic Partnership Building
Chris Prom introduced us to key ideas about grant development and strategic partnership building. One of the important reminders from this session was that grant proposals are very often built in partnership with one or more external organizations. Therefore, building and maintaining those relationships is not something separate from grant writing – it is part of the process itself.
A key message that will stay with me is the importance of the “hook”: the question, statement, or central idea in the proposal’s abstract that captures the funder’s attention and makes them want to continue reading. Being able to formulate the most important thing you want to say in a clear and compelling way is a skill that requires practice. This is not easy, and it does not always come naturally, especially to me. I have always found it challenging to deliver a powerful message in just a few words, both in writing and in speaking. This long blog post may be further evidence of that ? But this time, it is intentional. I want to make sure I capture my main reflections from each part of our agenda, both for the reader and for myself.
Still, this session was a useful reminder that clarity is part of strategy. Whether we are writing a grant proposal, presenting a new idea to university leadership, or explaining a library project to partners, we need to be able to communicate not only what we want to do, but why it matters.
Cataloging and Metadata
I was deeply humbled by Professor Myung-Ja Han’s presentation. Her knowledge and experience in the field of metadata are astonishing. Although I am not a cataloger myself, I fully recognize that cataloging is the backbone of a library’s operations.
One of the many online resources I noted during this session was Metadata Maker – an efficient, simple-to-use, free web tool created at the University of Illinois. I will make sure to share it with my colleagues back home, and I believe they will find it very useful.
This session helped me realize that metadata is not just a technical layer behind the scenes. It shapes discoverability, access, representation, and the user’s ability to find and understand resources. In that sense, metadata work is deeply connected to both user-driven and data-driven library services.
Champaign Public Library
I fell in love with the Champaign Public Library – its design, the way the spaces are used, how clean and well-organized everything felt, and how strongly community-centered it is.
Susan Winkler and Rebecca Van Dusen spent a generous amount of time showing us around and presenting the wonderful work their team is doing. I was amazed by the number and scale of the workshops they provide, and by the time, imagination, and effort that must go into organizing them – in addition to all the other services and resources the library offers.
It it a wonderful place, and another reminder that libraries can be both highly functional and deeply welcoming. A well-designed library space does more than house collections; it invites people in, encourages participation, and gives the community reasons to return.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
University of Illinois Library Sessions
Our program on Wednesday continued with a rich series of workshops and presentations delivered by University of Illinois librarians and staff. These included Civic and Government Literacy by Sangra Sung; AI Literacy by Celenia Graves, Evie Cordell, and Jess Hagman; Acquisitions and Cataloging Services with Anna Schlaack, Amy Fry, Diana Eynon, and Rachel Scott; and Research Data Services by Sandi Caldrone.
There was so much to learn from all these experts. What stood out to me most was the way collaboration seems to happen across units. No matter the size of the unit or the specific area of expertise, silos appear to be actively reduced. Colleagues seek help from one another, attend each other’s presentations, contribute to shared work, and conduct research together.
This, for me, was another example of impact being built through connection. The strength of a library does not come only from individual expertise, but from the way that expertise is shared, coordinated, and made visible across the organization. It felt like a sum of many strong parts working together toward a common purpose.
Another very special moment this week was the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner cooked and hosted for us by the Altrusa Club of Champaign-Urbana. Their generosity, warmth, and hospitality made the evening feel deeply personal and memorable — a beautiful example of community service in action, and of how quickly strangers can make you feel welcome and at home.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Thursday started very early for our Mortenson group as we headed to Chicago at 4 a.m. The two-day trip was exhausting, but also absolutely wonderful.
American Library Association (ALA)
Spending half a day at the office of the American Library Association was a privilege that not every librarian has the chance to experience, especially during their final preparations for the upcoming Annual Conference. This year marks the Association’s 150th anniversary, and the conference is expected to bring together more than 15,000 library workers from the United States and around the world, including several of this year’s Mortenson Associates.
It will clearly be a major event for the profession – an opportunity not only to network and celebrate, but also to reflect on where libraries have been and where they are going. Seeing the work behind such a large professional organization was inspiring and made me think again about the importance of professional communities, advocacy, and shared standards in strengthening the library field.
University of Chicago Libraries
Another major highlight of our Chicago visit was the time spent at the University of Chicago’s Joseph Regenstein’s Library and the Joe & Rika Mansueto Library. We were all amazed by the Mansueto Library’s beautiful glass dome and its underground high-density automated storage and retrieval system. The facilities are state-of-the-art, and the underground robotic system was custom-built. In terms of scale and technology, it could easily be compared to the warehouses of large commercial organizations. What makes it even more impressive is its efficiency: according to the library staff, delivering a print resource from storage to a patron takes approximately five minutes.
For me, this visit was a powerful example of how libraries can combine preservation, access, technology, and user service. The system is impressive not only because it is technologically advanced, but because the technology is clearly designed to serve a library purpose: making a vast collection accessible while using space intelligently.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
MacArthur Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation was our next stop in Chicago on Friday morning. Liz Quinlan, the Foundation’s librarian, is an inspiring professional. Her dedication and love for her work were immediately evident.
She told us about the Foundation’s work and the impact it has had by supporting creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. What impressed me most was how closely her library strategy aligns with the theme of the Mortenson Associates Program. Her work is strongly user-driven, from collection management to research support and communication with users.
Her advice on creating and maintaining a library procedures plan, and on keeping important documents shared and accessible at all times, was also a valuable lesson in strategic succession planning. It reminded me that a library’s work should not depend entirely on one person’s memory or informal knowledge. Good documentation is not bureaucracy for its own sake; it is a way to ensure continuity, transparency, and resilience.
Chicago Public Library
Our last stop in Chicago was the Public Library. We arrived during its Summer at CPL: Chapters of Chicago celebration – a campaign for all ages that promotes the city’s stories, sounds, flavours, and creativity. It was another remarkable example of community-driven activity that places the library at the centre of public life.
Chicago Public Libraryis remarkable in many ways, but one thing that immediately stands out is the size of its main building. It is the largest public library in the world in terms of square footage. Our tour took us through many floors and spaces, and it felt like each area revealed something new.
Our group especially enjoyed the table with beautiful puzzles, some of which had been started by one person and left for another to continue. There was something simple but lovely about that – a quiet invitation to participate, continue, and contribute. The children’s space was very thoughtfully designed, and the small but lively Innovation Lab, full of materials and people, could probably inspire even my craft skills, which are not exactly my strongest talent ?
The visit was another strong reminder that public libraries are not only places for books and information. They are civic spaces, creative spaces, learning spaces, and places where people of all ages can feel that something is happening for them.
Looking Back at Week 2
All in all, Week 2 was amazing. I was pushed out of my comfort zone several times, but that is exactly when learning happens. Human-centered design reminded me to listen before acting. AI and VR showed how technology can support learning and experimentation. The Program Logic Model and Environmental Scanning gave me tools for strategic planning. The visits to public, academic, and special libraries showed how different institutions create impact in very different but equally meaningful ways.
I am ending this week tired, grateful, and full of ideas. Follow me if you are curious about what week 3 will bring. I certainly cannot wait to find out.