4B2 Colour Our Collections: Using adult colouring as outreach in a health sciences library rare books collection

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Hamonic, Laura
  • Dennett, Elizabeth

• Introduction: A simple, cost effective method for engaging students and promoting use of our health sciences library's rare books collection was sought. An environmental scan of other special collections libraries' programs resulted in our decision to capitalize on the adult colouring trend. Description: Colouring pages were created by a practicum student, who digitally traced images from special collection books using an Intuos tablet and MyPaint. These colouring pages were released both in the library and online. In the library, a reproduction of the original document was posted above a table containing copies of the colouring pages and colouring supplies. Patrons were encouraged to colour the page and post their artistic efforts beside the original. Patrons were also provided with information on visiting the special collection. Outcomes: We began releasing pages in March 2017 and as such do not have outcomes to report yet. We plan to use four metrics to evaluate the program: the number of pages distributed in library, number of pages downloaded, number of coloured pages posted, and the number of users of the special collection stating they became aware of it through the colouring pages display. We will also have a comments board and use social media to collect patron reactions to the project and will report on the total cost of the project.

• Date created

  2017-05-15

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Special Collections - Health Libraries - Public Relations
  • Adult Colouring
  • Special Collections - Health Libraries - Outreach

• Type of Item

  Conference/Workshop Presentation

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R35T3GB8Z

• License

  Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International