Learning at the Library: Formal and Informal Outreach Activities at a Science LibraryMeghan Gamsby, Kevin Messner, Brill Science Library, Miami University

Getting students into the library is a difficult task. Having them explore new ideas is yet another. Our library has been active-ly involved in outreach projects to do just that! We are participating in both formal and informal science education activities to advertise the library, improve users’ information literacy skills, and expose them to current events in science. In this poster we will describe three “in-library outreach activities” and report on their results.

In-House VideosOverview:Beginning in August 2008, we began projecting live and pre-recorded video of various events and phenomena of scientific and technological interest. The initial inspiration for the project was a total solar eclipse. Our budget-friendly setup includes a projector and a homemade screen near the library entrance.

Videos included:The Northern Lights (and sounds)• “Eagle Cam” streaming live video of bald eagle • hatchlingsRube Goldberg machines• Fungus spore discharges, a phenomenon • shown to be the “fastest recorded acceleration in nature” by our facultyTrap-jaw ants and their fastest moving predatory appendages• Footage of marine squid exhibiting child-rearing behaviors• Footage of the Apollo 11 mission•

Outcomes:We have not performed a formal assessment of the project as yet. In-formally, many library users have commented positively on the exhibits – one customer remarked, “I love all the crazy videos you guys put up.” Brill is becoming “known” around campus for the video program.

Future Directions:We hope to enhance our abilities to screen interactive videos, anima-tions, and other software (e.g. various 3D environment simulators: Ce-lestia, Rome Reborn, E-Cell). In a new science library facility scheduled to open January 2011, space is reserved near the entrance for a large video screen area. We hope to bring a large video “wall” (possibly with a touchscreen) to create a more immersive experience.

Fall Open HouseOverview:We held a successful library open house in September. The entire university community was invited to celebrate Darwin’s 200th birth-day by visiting a series of stations on evolution, Darwin, and library services. With our budget supporting only printing costs, we were able to give out great door prizes and refreshments donated by local stores and library vendors. To reduce our workload and help other university groups advertise their services, we worked with several museums and our greenhouse to complement our programming. The event was wrapped up by a talk on Darwin and the meaning of life from a fungal perspective given by one of our botany professors. Stations included:

Swapping Genes: Finding Books Outside of • Miami Overproduction: Fungus and Info• Mapping the Genome: Technology in the Li-• brary Nano-Size it: Evolution of Nanomolecules •

Outcomes:We had 207 students complete enough of the stations to be entered in the draw and approximately 50 additional people attended the talk. The feedback exceeded our expectations with very few negative comments even though many students attended the event expressly to receive ex-tra grades for classes. The station that resulted in the most comments was How to Find Help in the Jungle, a station that explained how differ-ent forms of library help, just like different plants, have evolved for differ-ent purposes. Future Directions:

The feedback that we received, and from our experiences suggest that better signage was needed for visitors to find all the stations. We will also try to incorporate more interactive op-portunities at the stations; in an effort to keep stations very brief, several stations were not in-teractive. Working with faculty to arrange extra

credit for students was the biggest draw for students, so marketing the event to faculty is critical for continued success.

QOTMOverview:Beginning in January 2009 we began the Question of the Month (QOTM) contest. A display case near the library entrance is used to house a small exhibit of “clues” which pertain to the month’s quiz ques-tions. The program grew out of an earlier “Biochemical of the Month” contest. The quiz consists of 2-4 related questions; typically at least one of the questions requires the information resources available through the Science Library. Correct quiz entries are entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card to a local store.

The monthly contest is advertised on the University Libraries’ web site, on table tents in the library, and on posters distributed across campus. The quiz is also available online through a blog.

Topics included:Identities of chemicals, e.g bisphenol A• The technology of timekeeping• “Genetic algorithms”• Medieval astronomy• Insect diversity and taxonomy•

Outcomes:Response to the contest has been a bit underwhelming; while some quizzes have been quite popular, others have garnered only a small handful of responses. Surprisingly, the contest has improved communi-cation between student employees and librarians.

Future Directions:We are seeking ways to enhance this, including increased publicity across campus, and are considering enhancing the web presence of the contest and the possibility of extending the scope to participation be-yond the university.