Library Workshop - Let's Play

I was reading an article the other day ("The Academic Library as a Full-Service Information Center," by Sue Samson and Erling Oelz, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 31, Number 4, pages 347-351), and was struck by this imagery:

"the model of a library is no longer one of a warehouse but one of a workshop open for exploration and discovery."

Ooooooo, how exciting! This is what excites me about becoming an academic librarian--working in an academic setting that supports as well as inspires learning, creativity, growth, and discovery. Today, the library is not simply a warehouse of stored information. Rather, it is the point of origin from which a multitude of exploratory missions embark. Especially given the expansive amount of informational tools and resources that are now available electronically, the dynamic territories waiting to be discovered and further explored stretch to the horizon.

I also love the "workshop" imagery. Workshops are places for creativity and building. They are "hands-on" type environments. In the workshop model of a library you are not just a passive recipient of information. Intead, you are actively engaged in the informational transaction. In many cases you can become a contributor to the body of information, sharing your own knowledge and insights via blogs, wikis, and various social networking tools available via the internet.

One of my hobbies, when I have the time, is to engage in artsy/craftsy kinds of projects. I like to refer to it as "playing art." I had so much fun playing as a kid. As adults we often forget how to truly have fun--to enjoy the creativeness of play. I like the idea of transferring my "let's play art!" imagery into "let's play library!" Who would like to join me?!

Some thoughts to reflect on:

• What new journeys would you like to embark on?
• If you were a kid again, what would you most like to play?
• Do you find other ways to play in your own life?
• What would "playing library" look like to you?