SIS Alumnus Danny Hussey is Leading the Technological Renaissance at Sanibel Public Library
Off the coast of southwest Florida lies a vacationer’s paradise that doesn’t require a passport: Sanibel Island. This quaint island is roughly twelve miles long and is surrounded by pristine beaches. The local population is small yet dedicated, with a strong focus on conservation efforts and public services. One essential service on the island is the Sanibel Public Library, which many residents rely on not only for literature but also for internet access, education, and additional resources.
Due to its size, Sanibel Island is particularly vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian tested the resilience of the island and its community. The storm caused significant destruction, knocking out various local services, including the Sanibel Causeway—the sole road access to and from the island. Many homes and public facilities, such as the Sanibel Public Library, were severely damaged.
However, library employees, including Danny Hussey (‘16), sought to transform this tragedy into an opportunity to improve their services.
From Web Design to Library Innovation
Hussey grew up in West Tennessee, where he spent most of his life. He began his career in web design and was earning a good income while working for an advertising agency. Despite this, he felt unfulfilled in his job. This led him to transition from the advertising agency to the role of technology coordinator at the Obion County Public Library in Union City, Tennessee. It was at the library that he realized the impact he could have on library services.
“I was seeing things I hadn’t seen in my previous position. I was seeing conversations with senior widowers who didn’t talk to many people per week, but they were having conversations with librarians, having conversations with me,” he explained.
“It was a big part of their lives. I saw children who maybe had broken households or rougher backgrounds and they had a safe place to go and they were so happy. Everyone was accepted and the library was actually really important to a lot of people.”
These experiences inspired Hussey to pursue a Master of Science in Information Sciences. He chose the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, due to its American Library Association-accredited online MSIS program, which allowed him to continue living and working in West Tennessee. During the program, Hussey studied cost-benefit analysis, library management, and technology integration. He noted that faculty members, including Professor Wade Bishop, significantly influenced his life after graduation.
While working at his second library system, Hussey came across a job opening at the Sanibel Public Library.
“At the time, I was in Tennessee and I knew very little about the ocean. My parents vacationed there, but it’s closer to Havana, Cuba, than it is to Nashville,” he said.
Although he wasn’t confident in his chances of getting the job, he applied anyway. He believed that his Volunteer spirit played a crucial role in securing the position.
“Tennesseans are very valuable here because, I believe with people from the south in particular, we have a work ethic and a hands-on approach to a lot of things that certain areas of the country, they’re not inclined to. They’re not raised in such a way to pick up things and try them. That’s rare,” he stated.
This Volunteer spirit proved essential when Hurricane Ian struck Sanibel. Before the storm, Hussey helped implement significant upgrades to the library’s systems, which proved invaluable in the aftermath. Like many others, he evacuated the island as news of the storm’s severity emerged, leaving him uncertain about what he would return to.
Assessing Damage & Formulating a Plan
After the storm, Hussey said, “We had gotten up-to-date satellite imagery so we knew that the library was still there and it looked like some of the roof was damaged, but we knew the structure was there. We also had people on the island who had said they knew it was there, but it looked like all the first level was blown out.”
The storm surge was sixteen feet across the island. The storm’s flooding devastated the first floor, with water levels reaching six to nine feet. Everything on that level was ruined. Fortunately, many of the electronics were located on the second floor, so they sustained minimal damage from the flooding.
“I was one of the first groups to go out and assess the damage and to assist the police department. They were running operations out of the garages underneath the library,” Hussey explained. “So we partnered very heavily with the local law enforcement, which was using the library as an operations area where they had a lot of their equipment set up.”
While working to recover the library, they also delivered essential services to the community. At that time, the library was one of the few places where people could access cell phone service. During the recovery process, Hussey and his team also developed an outdoor space for Wi-Fi, ensuring continued access for both residents and tourists.
Rebuilding Infrastructure and Inventing Lifechanging Equipment
It’s been two years since the storm, and during that time, Hussey has maintained the same mindset he started with: a commitment to feeling fulfilled in his job by taking a hands-on approach to improve the library beyond its previous state.
“The theory was to not only come back and come back better, but we were able to implement a new makerspace and become a more robust network, something that was built on resilience as much as being smart,” he said.
Hussey not only restored but also upgraded the high-speed network he initially built. His team replaced damaged equipment with advanced technology and implemented a robust internet backup system utilizing both fiber-optic and Starlink connections, ensuring continuous and reliable connectivity even during service interruptions. They added enhanced backup power generation systems to ensure reliable power availability during outages and expanded the makerspace by integrating cutting-edge tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers for wood carving. The library now includes a designated area for children’s STEM activities and has upgraded its teen gaming lab.
Hussey introduced workshops on how to use the new technology during emergencies, including the 3D printer to create emergency supplies. They also installed a backup power system and established new flood-proofing measures. Community members can now take classes on how to use this new technology and can participate in educational programming, which Hussey says was inspired by the training he received at UT.
More recently, Hussey met a father who wanted to learn more about 3D printing to create a prosthetic hand for his daughter, who was born without one.
Hussey said, “They tried different prosthetics, but the father said they were just okay. I thought maybe I could make something for her. He wasn’t sure if she would use it, but I thought it might be a fun project for us and a great opportunity for me to learn.”
Hussey helped the father connect with Enabling The Future, a global network of volunteers specializing in digital services like 3D printing. Together, they worked with the organization to obtain the correct blueprints and sizing, ensuring the prosthetic was just right for the young girl.
“It was beautifully done,” Hussey said. “It was a very advanced model with intricate textures. We have excellent equipment here, and I learned a tremendous amount.”
One of the highlights of this project, according to Hussey, was the reaction from the young girl when she received her new hand.
“We talked about it, and she tried it out. I said, ‘Before you go, you have to shake my hand.’ She reached for my hand with her good hand, and I said, ‘No, I want to shake your new cool hand.’ She smiled and raised her new hand. I shook her little robotic hand, and she just looked at me and smiled. I thought, ‘That’s what it’s all about,’” he explained.
Reflecting on the Past and Looking to the Future
Hussey emphasizes the importance of continuously learning new methods to improve existing systems. He recognizes his vision for the Sanibel Public Library would not have happened without the community members who believed in him and shared his vision for what the library could become.
Hussey views libraries as a way to unite a community and aims to leverage technological advancements in the library to enhance the lives of others. He has no regrets about transitioning from a web designer at an advertising agency to working within the library system. His work at the Sanibel Public Library and other libraries has made a lasting impact on their communities. Hussey aspires to keep learning new and better ways to leave every place better than he found it.
SIS Alumnus Danny Hussey is Leading the Technological Renaissance at Sanibel Public Library written by Kristen Gallant and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.