Displays on a Dime Quick, Collaborative, and Economical Approaches to Library Outreach Presented by:...
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Transcript of Displays on a Dime Quick, Collaborative, and Economical Approaches to Library Outreach Presented by:...
Displays on a Dime
Quick, Collaborative, and Economical Approaches to Library Outreach
Presented by:
Dowling College Librarians
Michael Aloi, Lisa Esposito, Joyce Gotsch,
Diane Holliday, and Chris Kretz
February 3, 2005
Introduction
Who Are We?
Who Are You?
Today’s Goals
Collaboration– Learning from each other
Practice Creating Displays
Displays as Outreach
Why we think displays are important
Who we are reaching
When we do displays
How we do them
What kinds of displays do we do
How We Do Displays
Collaboratively
Cheaply
Kinds of Displays
Fixed
Traveling
Rapid Response
Online
What Are Fixed Displays?
Located in permanent cases. Installed for a long period of time. Involve a lot of planning. Include objects as well as library
materials.
The Value of Fixed Displays
Encourages use of collection. Enhances library atmosphere. Shows support for the community. Re-enforces connection with students
and faculty.
Displays encourage us to look at our collection in new ways.
Dowling-Related – Courses or Programs– Campus Events / Annual Theme– Faculty Activities
Library-Related
How Do We Choose Our Subjects?
Who is Our Audience?
Students Faculty Administration Visitors
Materials
Items in the collection– Real or photocopied
Props– Loaned– Special Collections
Reusable items– Boxes– Fabric– Bookstands
Annual Theme
Celebrating Italian-American Culture.
Special Collections
The Gilded Age
School of Aviation
Celebrating 100 Years of Flight
Faculty-Led Field Trips
“Dowling Digs Wyoming” led by Dr. John Tanacredi
Special Collections
D-Day: 60th Anniversary
A New Course (offered by the Visual Arts Dept.)
From the Sketchbook to the Stage
Faculty Lecture Series
Goya: Witchcraft & Superstition
How This Might Work for You:
Activities related to:– People on your staff– Community Members– Non-profit community groups
Remember: Use the activity to promote your collection!
Some Things to Keep in Mind
Lock up valuable stuff (objects, reference materials, etc.)
Leave some things out for browsing Provide a bibliography with more
materials, websites, etc.
Have Display, Will Travel
How Do We Choose Our Subjects?
Campus Activities Outside the Library– Faculty Lecture Series
Outside Organization’s Events Held at the College– Long Island EcoSummit
Faculty Lecture Series
Goya: Witchcraft & Superstition
Long Island EcoSummit
Who is the Audience?
Students Faculty Administration Visitors
Permission: To Ask or Not To Ask?
Is your display going to invade the space of the event or participants?
Where Are Our Materials Going?
Into the Wilderness…
Traveling displays take items out of the safety and control of the library.
This affects item selection.
Additional Supporting Items
Bibliographies
Faculty author
stickers
Book stands
Simple fabrics
The Value of Traveling Displays
Visibility for the library Shows library support for community
activities Outreach to new patrons who may
never have set foot in the library, but now they see that the library has materials on a topic that interests them.
Rapid Response Displays – How To Choose The Subjects
The event may be a current news item:– The Death of Ronald Reagan – September 11 attacks
An item of community interest:– Local activity or event– Town council vote
Other items of high patron interest: – New movie based on a particular book
These displays should be very visible and located in high-traffic areas of the library.
Design Process Determine topic and audience Check catalog for adequacy of holdings Pull books and examine for eye appeal -
color, size, condition, illustrations, etc. Brainstorm types of objects/artifacts that
would be appropriate – Put out APB Gather all materials Start playing!
Putting It All Together
Mark the spot Determine elevations Anchor the display with your largest,
eye-catching item Distribute books by sub-topic, size, color,
or illustrations Scatter open spaces with topic-related
“medium-sized stuff”
Finishing Touches
Stand back, check for balance, range of textures, and esthetics
Walk away and return later for a “first impression” or
Review display in a mirror Signage Handouts
Directions for Activity
Break into groups of 5: Find people with objects similar to yours (think: theme).
Each group will be given a box of “stuff”. Use your objects and “stuff” to create a
display on a table. Be prepared to talk about your display
(use of color, height, objects, etc.)
Online, Displays Never Die
Showcase what you’re doing Document what you have done Create a continuing resource
Dowling Library Displays Page
The Display Web Page
Keep it simple One or two
images Links
Archive of Past Displays
The Power of Linking
What’s Involved Photography Web page creation/maintenance Bibliographies
Creating PDFs for Free
DocMorph (National Library of Medicine)
http://docmorph.nlm.nih.gov/docmorph/docmorph.htm
Free registration Upload files on the web Converts them to PDFs (or TIFFs, text,
or synthesized speech)
The Truth About Displays
Highly visible, economical and effective Invite people to think of the Library and
collection in new ways Think outside of the case Many hands make light work
For More Information
Presentation and Bibliography available at: www.dowling.edu/library/aboutus/dime.shtm