Using the university-wide common reading book, Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?, we jump start the research process with first year students from the moment they step onto campus with an 8 minute orientation activity. In a small group, highly interactive process, students explore current controversial scenarios and are challenged to make informed and reasonable judgments based on evidence and observation. The goal: capture their natural curiosity and get them excited about research, information, discovery, and evaluation.
1st Fridays @ 4, a series of informal themed events hosted by librarians, was designed to engage with students in meaningful conversation and explore the terrain of information resources beyond coursework and research needs. The series marketed with the tag line, fun, food and library finds, included themes of Survivor, Library Edition, Celebrate the Chinese New Year, and The Secret World of Rare Books. The series was highly successful, providing direction for the current year.