“implementing a culture of creativity: engaging events and making in the academic library

IMPLEMENTING A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY: ENGAGING EVENTS AND MAKING IN THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY

MEGAN LOTTS, ART LIBRARIAN

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCTION

• Outreach, Engagement, Making, and Creativity & Innovation in

Academic Libraries.

• Creativity & Making can stimulate broader conversations among

patrons and Library employees about the value of the libraries.

• Making spaces can be scholarly, fun, affordable, and a new way

to engage w/patrons and connect to communities.

• I’m trained as a painter & installation artist and I spent many

hours in college working in academic libraries.

@MCLotts

ABSTRACTThis paper will explore the importance of engaging events within Academic Libraries that feature an

interactive or making aspect. The author will also discuss innovative programming happening in Academic

Libraries as well as a brief look at Makerspaces.

The author will present five interactive making projects including: Woodblock Woodstock, Holiday Card

Maker Space, Edible Books, a Polynomiography event for Rutgers Day, and the Art Library Lego Playing

Station.

This series of events looks closely at cross-disciplinary collaboration as a means to help coordinate

impactful library events. The author will explore how to create low cost making events and how to find

sponsors for incentives. Individuals will learn more about marketing and how to partner with those who

have common interests. The author will discuss making and critical thinking skills and how these can be

applied when teaching patrons about the library. Lastly this paper will look at how to assess and evaluate

ephemeral making events.

Making events are educational, fun, and also bring a greater value to the creative culture within the

library and overall campus.

@MCLotts

HISTORY OF MAKING-HTTP://WWW.AMERICANLIBRARIESMAGAZINE.ORG/ARTICLE/MANUFACTURING-MAKERSPACES

• 1873- Gowanda, NY The Gowanda Ladies Social Society formed to quilt, knit, sew, socialist, and talk

about books. In 1877, it became the Ladies Library Association, receiving state library charter in 1900 as

the Gowanda Free Library.

• 1960 Nebraska Library Commission Funded for FY1960 by the Library Services Act of 1956, the

Nebraska Library Commission (then known as the Nebraska Public Library Commission) in Lincoln hosted a

variety of special activities, including creative arts, that were organized by area groups.

• 1976 The tool library The Rebuilding together Central Ohio Tool Library was created by Columbus as the

tool-lending library with a federal community development block grant. In March 2009, Rebuilding

together central ohio took over operation of the library.

• 1979 Merrimack (N.H.) Public Library the newly renovated and expanded Merrimack Public Library

opened with a children’s craft room,

• 2011 Fayetteville (N>Y>) Free Library Makerspace the first 21st century makerspace opened in the

Fayevetteville Free Library. It was the first of its kind in a public library and includes a 3D printer that

works in a mobile capacity.

@MCLotts

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/manufacturing-makerspaces

MAKERSPACES-

Editorial Board Thoughts: Libraries as Makerspaces? By Tod Coegrove (U of Nevada)

ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ital/article/.../3793/pdf

• “making as a gateway to deepen engagement in science and engineering but also art and design.

Makerspaces share some aspects of the shop class, home economics class, the art of studio and science

lab.”

Do Makerspaces Add Value to Libraries? By Janet L. Balas

http://teamhughmanatee.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/do-makerspaces-add-value-to-libraries.pdf

• “Libraries are not just places for quiet study of scholarly materials but they can also be places where

the creation of audio or video presentations can take place. In the case of some extremely innovative

libraries, they can also be places for making actual physical objects.”

@MCLotts

http://teamhughmanatee.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/do-makerspaces-add-value-to-libraries.pdf

MAKERSPACES- JOHN BURKEMAKERSPACES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LIBRARIANS

On December 16th, 2013 John J Burke, Director of Gardner-Harvey Library at Miami University

Middletown circulated a report on “Makerspaces and the Participatory Library”

• 143 librarian respondents- 51% in public libraries, 36% in academic libraries, 9% in school libraries,

4% chose other, and 0% selected special libraries

• Makerspaces relatively new- 46% spaces developed in last year (2013)

• Top items found in makerspaces- Computer workstations (67%), 3D printing (46%), Photo editing

(46%), Video editing (43%), Computer Program software (39%), Arts & crafts (37%), scanning photos

(36%), creating website (34%)

@MCLotts

MAKERSPACES-IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Making Things in Academic Library by Maura Smale- 2012 http://acrlog.org/2012/10/16/making-things-

in-academic-libraries/

• “essentially it’s a place for folks to make things, perhaps writing and illustrating a zine, using the open source

Arduino computing platform to program a robot, screen-printing, or creating model houses with a 3D printer.

Makerspaces often include tools and equipment that are to expensive or specialized for most people to have

in their homes, as well as provide a gathering place for like-minded hobbyists to create and collaborate.”

Makerspaces Move into Academic Libraries by Erin Fisher- 2012 http://acrl.ala.org/techconnect/?p=2340

• “Makerspaces emerged around 2005 as an offshoot of the Do-it-Yourself (DIY) movement. A makerspace

often includes a 2-D printer, digital media and fabrication software, tools for welding, woodworking, and

soldering, traditional arts and craft supplies and other electronics”.

• “they provide opportunities for people to learn with their hands”

• “The academic landscape is shifting from a traditional teaching culture to a learning culture. A teaching

culture consists of an expert transferring knowledge to student, whereas a learning culture utilizes active

learning techniques”

@MCLotts

http://acrlog.org/2012/10/16/making-things-in-academic-libraries/

http://acrl.ala.org/techconnect/?p=2340

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING & HAPPENINGSACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN THE US

UCSD Claremont College NCSU Claremont College

http://www.slideshare.net/charbooth/love-your-library-building-goodwill-from-the-inside-out-and-the-outside-in

@MCLotts

http://www.slideshare.net/charbooth/love-your-library-building-goodwill-from-the-inside-out-and-the-outside-in

Jigsaw puzzle - Large craft paper taped to wall w/markers - Games- Legos

Snowflake making - Wii - Yoga/stress reduction workshops - Food - Therapy dogs

Basket of yarn & knitting needles - Displays of children's books - Booktruck with

travel snacks - coloring - mini-golf with discarded books - jump ropes - hula hoops

graffiti walls - knitting station where students could sit and knit blankets for

animals in shelters - origami - GIANT Jenga - GIANT Bananagrams - GIANT spoons

GIANT playing cards - GIANT checkers - GIANT Yahtzee

On Tuesday Nov. 19th, 2013 Theresa R McDevitt posed a question to ARLIS/NA list-serv,

looking for ways to help students using the library distress at finals. Ideally cheap, easy,

and non-messy.

@MCLotts

Open 24 hours last week of finals – cookies, soda, & coffee – jigsaw puzzles

coloring - legos – cookies- games – therapy dogs – bubble wrap – extended hours

arts & crafts – earplugs- bubbles – snacks – candy cart – popcorn machine

camping activities – free massages – raffles & prizes – contests- spa night/make

your own beauty treatments – care packages – bottles of water

On Tuesday Dec. 2, 2014 Virginia Alexander posted to the Library Marketing & Outreach

(LMaO) Facebook page “ Hi everyone. Got any big plans for outreach during finals? I

always want to do something for the students, but have zero marketing budget. Last year,

on suggestion from a librarian, I called a local Krispy Kreme and got some doughnuts

donated. The student loved them! Any other suggestions or ideas you have used in the past?

@MCLotts

Therapy Dogs – Candy- Ear Plugs – make cookies for the students- puzzles- lego tables

fly paper airplanes off the library mezzanine- snack box- coffee & cocoa- extending

library hours 24/7- Book Pong- Movie Night- bagels- cookie decorating- crafts - Holiday

card making- Graffiti wall- Coloring pages- Candy cart- free popcorn- laminating book

marks & luggage tags- silly putty- snowflake decorating- origami – games - kid books

belly dancing instruction- yoga- free chair massages- free pizza- 10 minute dance party

hummus bar- free taxis home- photo booth - study playlist on Spotify- knitting supplies

microwave & tea kettle available- video games

On Tuesday Nov. 18th, 2014 Kathryn Greer posed a question to [email protected] “l am

wondering what other libraries do during finals week. What does your library offer during

finals? What special services do you provide students during this stressful time ? Free

coffee, games, puppies!, etc?

@MCLotts

MAKING EVENTS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Pumpkin Decorating- Rutgers

Make your own bookmark- Carl Sandburg College

Confess your Stress- selfies as therapy Photo Booth- Virginia Tech

DIY Photo Booth w/props - UCSD

My Hunt Library- NCSU

Food Exploration- Mt Holyoke

Re Book- Claremont College

Making buttons- Claremont College

Snowflake making- Rutgers

Box making- Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale

Edible Books Festivals- many libraries

Art Library Lego Playing Station- Rutgers

@MCLotts

COORDINATING MAKING EVENTS & SPACES

WoodBlock Woodstock

Holiday card making space

Edible books

Polynomiography

Art Library Lego Playing Station

@MCLotts

WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCKSOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)

• Woodblock Woodstock is a celebration of wood

block printing, Morris

• Library Special Collections, and the SIUC

Printmaking program. Throughout the month of

April Morris Library will host a series of events

sponsored by:

• The Friends of Morris Library and SIUC’s School of

Art & Design (SOAD).

@MCLotts


• Bringing Light Out of Darkness: A History of Woodblock Printing

• Backward Thinking: Reflections on Printmaking a talk by Travis Janssen, Sang Eun Lee,

& Erich Neitzke

• Backhanded Compliments- Works by SIUC Printmaking Students

• Drive By Press

@MCLotts


Bringing Light Out of Darkness: A History of Woodblock Printing

@MCLotts


Backhanded Compliments- Works by SIUC Printmaking Students

@MCLotts


Jason Wonnell - The Outer Plains of Discordia Sang Eun - Lee Self Portrait

Backhanded Compliments- Works by SIUC Printmaking Students

@MCLotts


Drive By Press

@MCLotts


• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Fiscal sponsors- Friends of Morris Library, SOAD, & Morris Library

• Outreach & Marketing- free publicity via campus media and sponsors

• Got the studio artists into the Library

• Engaged the Artist community and ALL of the SIUC community

• Article written by Lotts-https://www.academia.edu/2502796/Woodblock_Woodstock_the_Drive_By_Press_at_Morris_Library

@MCLotts

https://www.academia.edu/2502796/Woodblock_Woodstock_the_Drive_By_Press_at_Morris_Library

HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACEALEXANDER LIBRARY- RUTGERS

@MCLotts

HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACEKILMER LIBRARY- RUTGERS

@MCLotts

HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACEKILMER & ALEXANDER LIBRARY- RUTGERS

• All material to make was donated by RUL faculty & staff

• AUL of reference & instruction donated stamps & cookies

• RUL Administrative staff made coffee with in house supplies

• RUL volunteers made cards and engaged with participants

@MCLotts

EDIBLE BOOKSSIUC & RUTGERS

@MCLotts


• Founded in 1999 by Beatrice Coron & Judith Hoffberg

• Categories: Puniest, Most Edible, Least Edible, Public Choice, Best Book

Structure, & Best in Show

• Guest Judges & Cross Disciplinary Collaboration

• Sponsors & Prizes

• Cookies and coffee for everyone

@MCLotts


@MCLotts

POLYNOMIOGRAPHYART LIBRARY- RUTGERS

@MCLotts

POLYNOMIOGRAPHYLIBRARY OF SCIENCE & MEDICINE (LSM)- RUTGERS

@MCLotts

POLYNOMIOGRAPHYART LIBRARY & LIBRARY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE- RUTGERS

• Cross-Disciplinary collaboration w/ Bahman Kalantari

• Used RUL laptops & computers

• Software created by Bahman Kalatari

• Student Volunteers (RUL & Dept of Computer Science)

• Engaged individuals of all ages (engaged over 450 patrons)

• No fiscal cost

• Art Library Intern curated an exhibit titled Natural Beauty: Art in Math and Science

with a case featuring Kalantari

@MCLotts

ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION

• Installed in August 2014

• Used existing table in Art Library

• Created signage

• All Legos were upcycled for project

• Kerri Sullivan, RU SCI graduate student

and Art Library summer intern 2014,

assisted with publicity, set up, and

making.

@MCLotts

PRESS

Check out Rutgers Today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZHhlwoy9Yc

@MCLotts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZHhlwoy9Yc

PRESS

@MCLotts

BLOCK PARTY

Scarlet Knight Days, models created by library faculty, library staff,

graduate students, and undergrads

@MCLotts

LEGO CHARACTER CONTEST

@MCLotts

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE EDA COURSE

• Way to connect with Landscape

Architecture Freshman.

• Gets Landscape Architecture students

into the Art Library which is on a

different campus than their studios.

• Working with Faculty, Students, and

Staff in Landscape Architecture helps

me better understand the needs of their

department.

• ACRL paper- http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3C53NJD

@MCLotts

http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3C53NJD

SAS HONORS COLLOQUIUM SECTION 10

• “Thank you so much! My partner and I were playing with the legos for at least two

hours. I even snapchatted my lego model to all my friends.”

@MCLotts

@MCLotts

CREATE YOUR IDEAL LIBRARY CONTEST

@MCLotts

LEGO WORKSHOPS RUL FACULTY & STAFF

• Team building & learning hands on

• Creative thinking about library resources & spaces

@MCLotts

ACADEMIC COACHES RUTGERS LEARNING CENTERS

• In January 2015, team building lego workshop with 6 Academic

Coaches for a Lego workshop including an introduction to the library

& Info Literacy skills

@MCLotts

COMMENTS

@MCLotts

Comments from collection box between Aug. 12th, 2014- Jan. 12th, 2015

CROWDSOURCED IMAGES

• Crowdsourcing of images has primarily

been images taken of table on daily basis.

• Most people were more than happy to

allow me to take their picture.

• Maybe I should be using another medium of

social networking?

@MCLotts


@MCLotts

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN…WHY IS OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, & CREATIVITY IMPORTANT

• We are more likely to learn or come back when we are having FUN!

• Creativity, making, & engagement helps build critical thinking skills & these

are skills that are applicable to library research.

• Creativity, making, and engagement creates community.

• Making with others can be inspiring.

• All people have a voice & want to be heard.

• There’s a lots of ways to make or create scholarship.

@MCLotts

ASSESSMENT

• Documentation- Analyze the images

• Surveys- looking at the language

• How many new followers are joining the FB page

• What are individuals liking on the FB page

• Head counts

• How many reference questions

• Observation & stories

@MCLotts

HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN..

• You don’t need a lot of money to create making projects or to engage with

patrons.

• Cross-disciplinary collaboration is good.

• Marketing & Outreach.

• You can’t do it alone.

• Incentives can help.

@MCLotts

THANKS & QUESTIONS?

Megan Lotts, MFA, M.L.I.S

Art Librarian

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

(848)932-7189

[email protected]

www.meganlotts.com

link to work in RUcore

http://soar.libraries.rutgers.edu/bib/Megan_Lotts/

Link to papers- Academia.edu https://rci-

rutgers.academia.edu/MeganLotts

Like the Rutgers Art Library facebook page at

www.facebook.com/rutgersartlibrary

@MCLotts

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.meganlotts.com/

http://soar.libraries.rutgers.edu/bib/Megan_Lotts/

https://rci-rutgers.academia.edu/MeganLotts

http://www.facebook.com/rutgersartlibrary

“implementing a culture of creativity: engaging events and making in the academic library

Education