April 2015 “Implementing a Culture of Creativity: Engaging Events and Making in the Academic Library.” Presented at Tri-State College Library Cooperative’s Spring Program. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1. IMPLEMENTING A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY: ENGAGING
EVENTS AND MAKING IN THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY
MEGAN LOTTS, ART LIBRARIAN
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

2. 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

3. ABSTRACT
This 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. MAKERSPACES- JOHN BURKE
MAKERSPACES: 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

7. 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

8. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING & HAPPENINGS
ACADEMIC 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 collib-l@lists.ala.org “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

12. 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

13. COORDINATING MAKING EVENTS & SPACES
WoodBlock Woodstock
Holiday card making space
Edible books
Polynomiography
Art Library Lego Playing Station
@MCLotts

14. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN 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

15. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
• 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

16. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
Bringing Light Out of Darkness: A History of Woodblock Printing
@MCLotts

17. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
Backhanded Compliments- Works by SIUC Printmaking Students
@MCLotts

18. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
Jason Wonnell - The Outer Plains of Discordia Sang Eun - Lee Self Portrait
Backhanded Compliments- Works by SIUC Printmaking Students
@MCLotts

19. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
Drive By Press
@MCLotts

20. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
Drive By Press
@MCLotts

21. WOODBLOCK WOODSTOCK
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (SIUC)
• 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

22. HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACE
ALEXANDER LIBRARY- RUTGERS
@MCLotts

23. HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACE
KILMER LIBRARY- RUTGERS
@MCLotts

24. HOLIDAY CARD MAKER SPACE
KILMER & 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

25. EDIBLE BOOKS
SIUC & RUTGERS
@MCLotts

26. EDIBLE BOOKS
SIUC & RUTGERS
• 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

27. EDIBLE BOOKS
SIUC & RUTGERS
@MCLotts

28. EDIBLE BOOKS
SIUC & RUTGERS
@MCLotts

29. EDIBLE BOOKS
SIUC & RUTGERS
@MCLotts

30. POLYNOMIOGRAPHY
ART LIBRARY- RUTGERS
@MCLotts

31. POLYNOMIOGRAPHY
LIBRARY OF SCIENCE & MEDICINE (LSM)- RUTGERS
@MCLotts

32. POLYNOMIOGRAPHY
ART 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

33. 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

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

35. PRESS
@MCLotts

36. BLOCK PARTY
Scarlet Knight Days, models created by library faculty, library staff,
graduate students, and undergrads
@MCLotts

37. LEGO CHARACTER CONTEST
@MCLotts

38. 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

39. 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

40. @MCLotts

41. CREATE YOUR IDEAL LIBRARY CONTEST
@MCLotts

42. LEGO WORKSHOPS
RUL FACULTY & STAFF
• Team building & learning hands on
• Creative thinking about library resources & spaces
@MCLotts

43. 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

44. COMMENTS
@MCLotts
Comments from collection box between Aug. 12th, 2014- Jan. 12th, 2015

45. 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

46. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION
@MCLotts

47. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION
@MCLotts

48. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION
@MCLotts

49. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION
@MCLotts

50. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION

51. ART LIBRARY LEGO PLAYING STATION
@MCLotts

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

55. THANKS & QUESTIONS?
Megan Lotts, MFA, M.L.I.S
Art Librarian
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
(848)932-7189
megan.lotts@rutgers.edu
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