Poster Session

Presentation Description:

Public libraries are inclusive places and spaces for all community members. And they also provide resources and services for learning. English is the de facto national language of Australia. English plays a dominant role in political, economic, and educational contexts. Australia is also a multicultural and multilingual country, and the 2021 Census recorded more than 150 Indigenous Australian languages and more than 160 migrant languages spoken. In such superdiverse cultural and language environments, we have readers and learners in a wide range of languages. Australian public libraries support users and readers of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. Libraries and librarians provide collections and services that are inclusive to all community members. Regardless of life stages, proficiency in languages (including English) may determine academic or professional advancement, social integration, and personal well-being. How do we provide transformative experiences and contexts from a lifespan approach?

Mezirow (1997) defines transformative learning as “the process of effecting change in a frame of reference” (p. 5). According to Mezirow, ‘frames of references’ are “the structures of assumptions through which we understand our experiences. They selectively shape and delimit expectations, perceptions, cognition, and feelings” (p. 5). Though the process of transformative learning is personal, the context for initiating and cultivating transformative learning is frequently non-personal. Mezirow’s transformation is implemented in ten phases. This talk will explore the initiation and implementation of transformative experiences in a public library setting with examples taken from policy document analysis, surveys and interviews with library users and staff. Our findings show that the public library system in New South Wales, Australia, is actively engaging in providing and supporting transformative learning. In the process, I hope to recast transformative learning as adaptive from a lifespan perspective.

Reference
Mezirow, J. (2008). An overview on transformative learning. Lifelong learning, 40-54.