I think of my job as very much going to the root of librarianship, which is facilitating learning … and creating community. The main difference is that I (and my library) are moving well beyond just books, as are many other libraries.” — Mikael Jacobsen

“I think of my job as very much going to the root of librarianship, which is facilitating learning … and creating community. The main difference is that I (and my library) are moving well beyond just books, as are many other libraries.” — Mikael Jacobsen

In the six months Mikael Jacobsen has worked as learning experiences manager at the Skokie Public Library, his days have come to include everything from teaching classes to producing movies and offering information about Microsoft Office products. He oversees the library’s digital media lab, coordinates its digital literacy offerings and introduces ideas in hands-on learning for non-traditional items, such as video cameras patrons can check out.

On top of that, Jacobsen oversees the library’s computer areas and study rooms and helps patrons find materials and research any given topic.

“I think of my job as very much going to the root of librarianship, which is facilitating learning,” said Jacobsen, 38, who earned a Masters of Library and Information Science from Dominican University in 2008. “We are facilitating learning and creating community. The main difference is that I (and my library) are moving well beyond just books, as are many other libraries.” Read more…