The trick to getting students in the library is to treat them to candy and prizes.
More than 600 students attended Middleton Library’s “It Came From the Library” open house to learn about resources from LSU Libraries’ Special Collections, which cover everything from law to music to oral history. The open house was an attempt by library staff to highlight services and resources offered by the libraries in a fun, festive environment.
There were 20 stations manned by costume-clad library staff, each offering a brief summary of the service they represented. Students who made it to 12 of the stations were entered into a drawing for a Kindle Fire, an iPad or an iPad Mini.
Business reference librarian Rebecca Kelley said she believes there are two reasons students do not utilize the library: a lack of awareness and a fear of asking for help.
“We want to make the library a place where students want to be,” said Kelley. “We have more than just print books.”
Sigrid Kelsey, director of library communications and publications, said the University library system offers hundreds of thousands of e-books and e-journals in addition to the print copies on the shelves.
While those numbers can be daunting, Kelsey said she wants students to understand the advantages of starting a search at the library instead of online.
“I want students to know how much we can help them succeed with their studies,” Kelsey said.
The first open house was held in February 2014, and positive student reactions prompted its return. Many seniors never use the resources offered by the libraries despite being funded by their tuition dollars, Kelley said, so LSU Libraries hopes to make the event an annual occurrence that attracts incoming freshmen as well as upperclassmen.
Mechanical engineering sophomore Elaine Turk said the open house was informative. While visiting each station, she said she learned she could get a master’s degree in business and that Hill Memorial Library was open to all students.
Hill Memorial Library houses the libraries’ Special Collections, which include rare books, old newspapers, diaries, photographs and ledgers.
Tara Laver, curator of manuscripts for Hill Memorial, said many undergraduates think Special Collections are just for graduate students and faculty, but that’s not the case. She said the library open house is a great way to put a face to the name, so students will be less hesitant to come in.
The LSU Law Library is similarly underutilized by undergraduates, said Travis Williams, metadata librarian and archivist.
“A lot of the undergraduates don’t know we exist and our resources and space are available for them to use,” he said.
Williams said he hopes the event raises awareness of the law library’s reputation as the “quiet alternative” to Middleton.
Spanish and international studies freshman Julianna Holt said she was glad the library offered this program. She said there were many things, including the Gear2Geaux program, that she had never heard about before attending.
“The open house is great for anyone who isn’t familiar with the library,” Holt said.

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Raegan Labat

LSU's Middleton Library hosted a Halloween themed open house Wednesday, October 29, 2014.