During our visit to this space, we listened to Jason Quaynor, Youth Program Specialist at the Hennepin County Library Best Buy Teen Tech Center and Aaron Lundholm, Teen Tech Center Coordinator talk about the importance of the space. They talked, at length, about the space as a program or the space knowing the answers. Yes, this teen space runs no programs. They believe the space is a continual program.

Some have argued that the library is place. Others have argued that the library is platform. I want to suggest that, maybe, the library is an ecotone.

The concept of ecotone emerges from the field of ecology. An ecotone is defined as “a transition area between two biomes. It is where two communities meet and integrate.” Ecotones are responsive, dynamic, electric, yet sensitive spaces. For example, climate change is more readily seen in ecotones because they are more attune to change. Ecotones, or from the Greek “habitat tensions,” is the fertile edge effect between these two separate systems.

Ecotone is where some amazing growth happens. Not only is this where growth happens, but also the scientific literature suggests that this is where radical growth happens. From the transitions of the Rocky Mountains to the transitions of marshland, growth–amazing, radical, life-giving growth– occurs in this space between two things.

Ecotones are where things happen. Mysterious, powerful, awe-inspiring life occurs in ecotones. There is life grown, created, and developed in ecotones that is found nowhere in either of the two meeting ecosystems. There is stuff that will only grow in the space between two living things. Evolution (and I would argue revolution) does not occur in stable ecosystems, but only in these messy ecotones.

May I suggest that the library is an ecotone? We are the space between work and home. We are the space between childhood and adulthood. We are the space between illiteracy and literacy. We are the space between unemployed and employed. We are the space between bullying at school and abuse at home. In the library ecotone life bursts forth; life that could only have begun in our space.

May you remember the importance of the library as ecotone. May you come to realize that our space is life-affirming and life-giving. May you remember that in the times when our space feels chaotic, it simply means that life is buzzing, and may you know that for far too many patrons, our space may be the only safe space they have.

References

[1] Ecotone (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 9, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotone

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What I’ve been pondering is the difference in reference interviews. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: there are really two types of reference interviews, advising and coaching/counseling. The advising type of reference interview is when a patron comes to seek our advice and help in finding answers. Counseling interviews, on the other hand, are not where patrons come to seek answers from us, but come to get us to help them figure something out. In other words, advice is when we, librarians, tell patrons what we think; counsel is when librarians help patrons figure out what they are thinking.

While they may seem very similar, they are not, and if we use the wrong approach we can actually cause great harm (that statement may or may not be hyperbole). Let me illustrate with the same question. Let’s say both Patron A and Patron B come to your desk asking to help them find a book about becoming a veterinarian. Seems pretty straightforward doesn’t it? But through a solid reference interview you hear Patron A say, “Oh yes, I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian, even when I was a little kid,” but Patron B has a different answer, “Well, I’m guess I don’t know what I want to do with my life, but I like dogs.”

Now, in both cases we can answer the question. We can give both patrons the same book. But does Patron B really leave with the answer they are looking for? No. Patron B is really looking for help on what the heck to do with their life. What Patron B really needs to hear is that it’s OK to not have it figured out. Maybe share a little of your story, or the story of someone you know. Then you can provide them with resources on taking the next steps. And if you have the resources or training, perhaps you can help them figure out what point on the compass they should pursue.

What is really important is to know the difference between the two types of questions. Sometimes patrons are just looking for an answer, but other times patrons are looking for much bigger answers. Many times patrons seek answers that don’t address the issue behind the question. And often times, patrons are looking for someone like us to validate their feelings, doubts, and fears.

May you remember that you can give great advice or great counsel, but know when to provide it. May you remember that we all don’t have this whole life thing figured out, so give your patrons great empathy, and may you remember that sometimes the answer the patron is really seeking is the ear of someone kind, much like YOU.

Photo Credit: Francesca Launaro (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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