Pop-Up Special

Collections

Kelli HansenSpecial Collections & Rare Books

University of Missouri@BiblioKelli

Students were interested in looking around, taking a break, and talking to us about the materials.

2 days 6 hours 1 librarian+1 student assistantAbout 50 visitors

How to keep it going?

1. Find more partners:1. Reference and

instruction librarians2. Newly formed User

Engagement Team

2. Branch out on our own

1. Handling. Don’t worry too much. Most visitors are content to look.

2. Advertise effectively.

3. Less text; more pictures.

4. Build in participation.

4. Build in participation.

5. Giveaways.

6. Involve your student workers.

7. Look for the popular culture tie-in.

“Interesting Bindings from Special Collections” “6 Books that Look Like They Belong at Hogwarts”

Each exhibit …

…lasted 2 hours.…involved 2 staff members and 5-10 items.….was scheduled in the afternoon.…attracted 30-40 students who had never heard of Special Collections before.

Don’t wait for them to come to you – take your reading room to them!