Category Archives: Library Events

Library Homecoming 2013 event: Reimagining books as works of art

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As we considered how the Library might participate in this year’s Homecoming weekend celebration (October 25-27, 2013), we stumbled upon a wonderful idea from the Claremont (California) Colleges Library. They have developed a “repurposed book art contest” called RE:BOOK. The RE:BOOK contest was conceived to “[invite] students to submit projects made from worn-out books and other forms of cast-off paper.” The planners posed a question as the basis of RE:BOOK: “When does a book outlive its intended use, and what (legitimately) happens next?”**

We weren’t (at this stage) so much interested in delving into a philosophical conversation about the life-cycle of books as we were looking for a creative Fall book-related event to engage Milligan College students, faculty, and staff, which could also serve as a nice complement to the Edible Books Festival we put on in the Spring.

Since we didn’t know what to expect in terms of entry response the first time around, we decided to pair the idea of reimagining books as art with a display of some of the wonderful art books we have in the Library collection. This led naturally to a name for our event: Art Book+Book Art. We also decided that instead of awarding prizes for favorite entries, we would simply hold a drawing where one lucky (non-staff) entrant could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

We were very pleased by the initial response. We had 14 entries submitted by 6 artists, representing both students, faculty, and library staff. Student Anna Dukart was the winner of the Amazon gift card. The exhibit was set up in the back study area on the Main Floor of the Library throughout Homecoming weekend. It will remain up through Friday, November 8 if you haven’t yet had a chance to see it in person.

We love the idea of having the Library serve as a venue for art. We definitely plan to hold the event again next year. We hope that it will become an annual Fall/Homecoming tradition. Here are photographs from this year’s Art Book+Book Art exhibit (click on a thumbnail to enlarge):


** Tagge, N. and Booth, C. (2013, September). Constructive destruction: Examining the life cycle of texts through RE:BOOK. College & Research Libraries News, 74(8), 402-407.

#BannedBooksWeek display highlights freedom to read

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We’re celebrating American Library Association’s Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2013) by inviting you to read books that have been deemed “pornographic,” “racist,” “obscene,” and even “un-American.”

The display shelves on the 1st floor of your Library are now home to 28 books wrapped in brown paper, with title and author information hidden. On each wrapper, you’ll find the various charges that have been leveled against that particular book (e.g., “graphic imagery” or “drug use”). What do they have in common? All of these books have been challenged or banned in US libraries or school systems in the past few years. As a point of contrast to these allegations, on the spines of the wrapped books, Library staff have written the praise each has received. You may be surprised to see how many of these controversial books or their authors have won Pulitzers, Nobels, or other prestigious awards, or have been #1 bestsellers!

The books are wrapped in paper to highlight the “dangerous” content some feel they contain, and these wrappers will stay on the books until they’re checked out. We encourage you to take a chance and check out something that will both entertain and challenge you as you come to your own conclusions.

Why celebrate banned books? Libraries serve to connect users to information–not to restrict users’ access to it. As Library professionals, we cannot deny users the right to receive the information they desire because a third party may find it morally objectionable. We uphold the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech, and the corollary right to freely receive information. Some people want to restrict your right to read whatever you want, but librarians are there to stand up for your to be informed and entertained.

You can learn more about Banned Books Week at http://www.bannedbooksweek.org, and by following the #BannedBooksWeek hashtag on Twitter. Check out how libraries around the world are taking a stand for your right to read by highlighting their controversial books.

“It’s Your Library!” promotes services and encourages a sense of ownership

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Beginning with a “Welcome Back” banner hung in front of the building, followed by handing out “6 Thing we can help you with TODAY” bookmarks and our newest library pens at New Student Orientation, and adding a subtle update to the library website (and library staff email signatures), the Milligan College Library launched its “It’s Your Library: …and so much more!” promotional campaign for the 2013-14 academic year.

“It’s Your Library!” is the brainchild of User Services Librarian, Jeff Harbin and Library Director, Gary Daught. “We will be hanging new banners throughout the year,” said Harbin. “We want to keep the consistent ‘It’s Your Library!’ branding, but highlight different library services we think our users find most valuable–things such as research assistance, study spaces, and MCSearch. The ‘and so much more!’ aspect stresses that the whole is greater than the sum of any one library service highlighted at the time. Plus there’s the relational aspect we value and are trying to promote. All library services at some level are delivered to our users by competent, helpful, and caring staff.”

“That’s right!” added Daught. “We wanted to create an attractive promotional vehicle to enhance the visibility of the library to Milligan students and faculty while also encouraging them to take a greater sense of ownership in the library. The library exists for our users. So we figured, instead of talking about ‘what the library can do for you’ we would talk about ‘what your library can do for you.’ It’s a small but important change. The services are the same, but the relationship with our users is strengthened.”

A quarter gets us there!

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ImageWe’re very close to meeting the $10,000 goal of the Million Pennies Campaign! So close, in fact, that if every Milligan Library user contributed 25 cents, we could end the Campaign today!

Our campaign donations now total $9,185.04, thanks to the $68.77 donated in August 2013. Last month’s totals reflect an average contribution of around 2 cents per Library user. So contribute a quarter (or more!) and let’s build some momentum as we move closer to our $10,000 goal!

Bring your loose change (or cash or checks!) and drop it into the plastic cube at the Circulation Desk. When we reach our $10,000 goal, we’ll allow you, the contributors, to name a study room whatever you like in the newly renovated Library!** (If you’re not familiar with the Campaign, check out original post on the library blog.) We’ll do a count of new contributions around the first of each month this semester and announce the results here, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and MilliganToday.

Flat broke? We will also take your unwanted but gently used books, textbooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and audiobooks for our Million Pennies Book Drive, which also benefits the Campaign. There’s a donation box in the library lobby. Thanks again, and please ask a member of library staff if you have any questions!
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** A note from Gary F. Daught, Director of Library Services: It is exciting to think that we are so close to our goal. Obviously, the Library renovation project will require significantly more than $10,000 to complete, and it is still awaiting major funding even after the initial phase of Milligan College’s Forward Ever capital campaign was successfully concluded in June 2011. The Million Pennies Campaign was launched concurrent with Forward Ever to engage our users–particularly students–in this project in a way that was meaningful, accessible, and concrete. It is a small but tangible way for everyone to show their support for the Milligan College Library. I want to ‘second’ Jeff Harbin in thanking everyone who has contributed their pennies to date. Let’s see if we can reach our goal before the end of the semester!

All we need from you is 31 cents!

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31centsA donation of 31 cents from every Milligan Library user will get us to our goal of a Million Pennies, or $10,000, toward Library renovation! Our campaign donations now total $9,116.27, thanks to the $147.77 donated in July 2013. Thanks for your generosity!

How can you help? Bring your loose change (or cash or checks!) and drop it into the plastic cube at the Circulation Desk. When we reach our $10,000 goal, we’ll allow you, the contributors, to name a study room whatever you like in the newly renovated Library!** Every penny helps! (If you’re not familiar with the Campaign, check out original post on the library blog.) We’ll do a count of new contributions around the first of each month this semester and announce the results here, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and MilliganToday.

Flat broke? We will also take your unwanted but gently used books, textbooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and audiobooks for our Million Pennies Book Drive, which also benefits the Campaign. There’s a donation box in the library lobby. Thanks again, and please ask a member of library staff if you have any questions!
__________
** A note from Gary F. Daught, Director of Library Services: It is exciting to think that we are so close to our goal. Obviously, the Library renovation project will require significantly more than $10,000 to complete, and it is still awaiting major funding even after the initial phase of Milligan College’s Forward Ever capital campaign was successfully concluded in June 2011. The Million Pennies Campaign was launched concurrent with Forward Ever to engage our users–particularly students–in this project in a way that was meaningful, accessible, and concrete. It is a small but tangible way for everyone to show their support for the Milligan College Library. I want to ‘second’ Jeff Harbin in thanking everyone who has contributed their pennies to date. Let’s see if we can reach our goal before the end of the semester!