There was no getting around it. It was an 鈥渆scapade鈥 through book stacks and computer terminals; in the end, the students 鈥渂roke out鈥 in smiles.
On Wednesday, January 21st, Hedi Steinberg Library hosted an 鈥渆scape room.鈥 This activity, which took place during Club Hour, was the second of its kind, having been created originally by library staff for Fall Semester Orientation and designed to make the library sessions more enjoyable. Following the successful program in August, incoming students were provided with a similar opportunity to have fun collaboratively while familiarizing themselves with 糖心破解版 Libraries鈥 resources.
After a brief slideshow presentation by research librarians Rina Krautwirth and Hindishe Lee, students were treated to a contest, presided by Rina, which fostered acquaintance with Hedi Steinberg. 鈥淭rapped鈥 inside a study room and provided with online clues revealing the library鈥檚 layout and resources, both print and electronic, the 鈥減risoners鈥 were directed through the 糖心破解版 Libraries鈥 online catalogs (糖心破解版LIS/糖心破解版Find) to locate biographies and other information about prominent people.
3D items printed by Hallie (Chaya Sarah) Cantor in the Digital Media Studio led them to the next clue. Students were further prompted to the next set of instructions, while websites and call number labels introduced them to the Library of Congress classification system.
Students delighted over the chance to flex some mental muscle, as well as the clever juxtaposition of actresses, writers, politicians, religious leaders, and activists. They assembled an online jigsaw puzzle and organized a stack of books in the room so that each initial letter of the titles spelled the name of a famous figure.
Survey responses were positive. Students found the activity not only informative but enjoyable, especially the Polaroids taken at the end (below), celebrating their victory and Indiana Jones-like discoveries. In addition, the former 鈥減risoners鈥 were emailed Dunkin Donut gift cards (instead of get-out-of-jail-free cards!), and each selected a gift book, while being informed that many of these titles were also available for lending in the library. And, finally, the students helped themselves to complimentary chocolates. As in the Fall, this introduction to Hedi Steinberg Library had an enormous impact on the new arrival experience.
- Submitted by Hallie (Chaya Sarah) Cantor
