Competency O

Preparation and Evidence

As I reflect on the work I have produced, there is one assignment that stands out more than any other for this competency, and that is an essay I wrote for INFO 232 Issues in Public Libraries. Leading Libraries of Progressive Change is the essay I wrote for Professor Barefoot's class, and in this essay, I discuss how libraries across the globe are reinventing themselves to address the needs of their communities.

I wanted to start this paper by declaring that in the United States there is a lack of resources for homeless individuals, troubled youth, and people with disabilities. The purpose of my opening statement identifies the groups I will discuss while also denoting that in America, there is a struggle for addressing these groups. As mentioned in a different competency, there are libraries where librarians have shifted their roles to fit the informational needs of these groups, but when compared to libraries across the world, the amount of dedication cannot even compare. It is fascinating to learn how other libraries have addressed cultural and socio-economic factors for these groups, and by examining libraries in Croatia, Australia, and Egypt, we gain a deeper understanding of Competency O.

Unemployment rates and poverty increased in Croatia after the Croatian War of 1995, and Croatia soon found itself with a large number of homeless individuals, and the numbers only grew over the years. The Zagreb City Libraries sought to develop a plan that would dwindle the number of homeless individuals by designing programs that focused on areas where individuals could sharpen various skills, from social networking to tech-literacy to writing. The Zagreb City Libraries collaborated with two organizations, Zagreb Volunteer Center and Street Lamps magazine (Bunic, 2013). Their collaboration with Zagreb Volunteer Center allowed homeless individuals to gain working experience by volunteering in libraries and networking with other individuals alike. Makerspace programs hosted by the library encouraged homeless library patrons to sell their crafts for money. Their partnership with Street Lamps magazine also provided homeless individuals with two opportunities, sharpening their writing skills and profiting from some of the sales. The Street Lamps magazine creates awareness for homelessness issues, and Street Lamps magazine allowed homeless individuals to collaborate by writing articles or distributing the magazine on the street. The individuals that distributed the magazine retained a small profit of the earnings. These initiatives were pathways for a new beginning that provided them with the opportunity to earn some income when economic conditions were low and sharpen communication and writing skills that would essentially prepare them for the future.

As partnerships came to a close, the Zagreb City Libraries prepared new library initiatives that would continue addressing the needs of the homeless community. A Book for a Roof was designed to provide new job opportunities for individuals while decreasing the existing biases of homeless individuals. To attract a large percentage of individuals, the librarians agreed to perform field work under the condition that participants engage with new program initiatives. Librarians were performing duties in shelters that sought to teach individuals tech literacy skills to prepare them for future opportunities. The library, in collaboration with shelters, added computers to guarantee attendance. The program was successful to an extent; new concerns emerged that impact the role of the librarian.

Zagreb City Libraries, however, was not ready to forfeit ideas in helping the homeless community. Instead, they developed a new plan that would require active participation at the library. Tech literacy programs remained a hot topic, so the library continued to provide this service under the conditions that participants demonstrate commitment. However, librarians soon learned that these participants preferred private mentorship that offered opportunities in drafting resumes and accessing help entering the job market. Librarians were dubious about offering private sessions because they predicted low counts in patron participation. However, the librarians tested program initiatives and learned that these individuals performed well and showed more commitment than when working in large groups. These initiatives served as a learning experience for librarians, in which they realized and sought further training in areas that focused on psychology and social work. The librarians were aware that their performance exceeded the limitations of a librarian, and they felt it was necessary to become acquainted with these subject areas to learn new skills and adapt to the changing demands of patrons.

The Zagreb City Libraries performed various initiatives that address cultural competence in which they attempt to eliminate biases and prejudices regarding the homeless community; they provided aid during harsh economic conditions by giving them ideas and opportunities to earn money and prepare for job opportunities. Their programs reflect the educational needs of this community by teaching them tech literacy skills. Lastly, their determination to reduce homelessness by providing a plethora of opportunities that would enable them to join the workforce demonstrates their passion for helping communities in needs.

The second library I researched was the Helensvale Library in Australia because their architectural design is designed to attract the youth. In any part of the world, there are teens that experience life challenges at an early stage in their lives and are unable to cope, pushing them to make decisions that have negative impacts in their lives. Libraries play a role for at-risk youth groups by allowing them to create connections with staff and community members and offering programs that will attract their attention and distract them from their reality. In short, libraries are safe havens for many individuals, including at-risk youth groups. Apart from social aspects that bring individuals back into the library, "many libraries today have been architecturally transformed to attract youth groups" (Rivas, 2018, p. 4). The Helensvale Library is unlike any other library, a real treasure for youth groups. The library has been designed to include media labs, recording studios, and other spaces that encourage and welcome creativity. The library created a series of programs that introduce youth groups to 3D printing, sound recording, app design, amongst other things to promote these resources in an event known as tech-week. These strategies encourage teens to learn new skills in addition to learning new technologies. The library also offers resources for youth groups to rehearse performances and offers many physical education classes. Libraries today offer programs and digital services for teens to keep them entertained, but the Helensvale Library gives more than entertainment. The Helensvale Library is a factory of learning possibilities; a real educational institution, supporting people of all ages to work collaboratively and think creatively, as they master new skills and learn new subjects.

The Library of Alexandria is one of the leading libraries in the world, promoting "educational literacy, digital literacy, and the acceptance of diverse cultures and groups" (Rivas, 2018, p. 6). Their collaboration with the Taha Hussein Library, a specialized library that emphasizes on people with disabilities, has allowed the Taha Hussein Library to expand their programs and services to provide learning opportunities for multiple groups with disabilities, including the hearing and visually impaired, and people with reading disabilities. For children, the Taha Hussein Library offers art programs that help children navigate open spaces to identify shapes and make mental connections so that they can later draw what they have learned. For young adults and adults, the library has implemented modern technologies that include optical character recognition (OCR) software, providing users with the freedom and independence to navigate current technologies (Rivas, 2018, p.7). These services address the learning needs of its patrons by creating a library that approaches distinct learning techniques.

When creating this assignment, I thought about the people we serve at my community. The number of homeless library patrons was much higher than it is now, and in many instances, we could not provide them with access to a library card if they did not present the proper requirements to obtain one. To get a library card, patrons must show identification with their current home address and a document with their name and address if their ID did not reflect their current home address. When patrons do not have access to a library card, they cannot borrow materials, use the computers, or access online digital tools. Current policy practices made it impossible to address the information needs of homeless library patrons. Things have changed since then, but when I wrote the paper, these practices propelled me to look deeper into how other libraries are addressing the homeless community, and that is when I learned about Zagreb City Libraries.

The second group I focused on were at-risk youth groups. "At-risk youth are often identified after running away, skipping school, drinking underage, engaging in sexual behavior, displaying disruptive behavior, bullying/harassment, fighting, and committing acts of vandalism" ("Serving at-risk youth, n.d.). At the library, there is a group of teens that come in with the intent of causing disruptions after school. The librarians provide them with several warnings before asking them to leave. In the mornings, I have witnessed different teens spend the school day at the library, sometimes even daily. These situations are indicators that the library has a percentage of at-risk youth groups, and although the library provides programs for young adults, there isn't a concise plan to address these specific groups. How can we encourage young adults to go to school? How can we communicate with disruptive teens? I cannot yield a definitive response to these questions but, examining the Helensvale library provides new insights for addressing at-risk groups.

Lastly, at the time I wrote this paper, the assistant was teaching us basic sign language gestures to communicate with people that are hearing impaired, thus creating awareness among staff members. Many of us were oblivious to this community, and we were not addressing their needs. Furthermore, none of the staff members are fluent ASL speakers. These actions got us thinking about other individuals with disabilities and how we could address their needs because the library does not have the proper staff or OCR software that could provide aid for people with disabilities. To make matters worse, the only braille books we have available are the Harry Potter series. As the library struggles to address the needs of these individuals, I wanted to learn if there were libraries around the world that provided a better approach, and that is when I learned about Taha Hussein Library. Although this library specializes in catering to the informational needs of people with disabilities, it is important for libraries to observe how they address this community to find solutions that provide a better impact on how public libraries approach these groups. It is for these reasons that I chose to analyze these libraries, to reflect on our current library practices and learn how to address these communities.

Future Applications

Observing library initiatives across the globe is quite different from environmental scanning in the sense that you are not seeking to find emerging trends. Instead, you are searching for new opportunities that will address the needs of a specific community. It is imperative that librarians search for inspiration from other libraries to draft new plans and methodologies that will address the needs of homeless groups, at-risk youth groups, and groups with disabilities. These groups require further attention from libraries, and by addressing their needs, libraries demonstrate competence in addressing the well-being of the community as a whole.

Studying libraries in Croatia, Australia, and Egypt was not only inspiring, but it also provided a sense of aspirations as to where I hope to be in the future. As a future librarian, I want to address the needs of multiple groups by adopting an active role that allows me to immerse myself with the community. Identifying areas where my current library can improve are steps towards improving the quality of service and good exercise for me to practice developing new initiatives that will address underserved groups n my community.