At CMLE, we so enjoy all our different types of libraries, archives, and other members! Seeing all the work you are doing is so inspiring; and we want to return the favor by helping you to find some of the great programming going on around the profession.

Each week we will share an interesting program we find. It may inspire you to do exactly the same thing; or to try something related; or just to try out some different programming ideas. (On November 9, 2017, we will drop a podcast episode on Library Programming; you can tune in here to check it out! Or, of course, subscribe or stream to enjoy any of the episodes!)

Making Trivia Masters: Using Trivia to Turn Students into Explorers

By Kate Lewallen, Middle and Upper School Librarian, Webb School of Knoxville, Knoxville, Tenn.

“A few months ago on Programming Librarian, I talked about asking a trivia question as part of your passive programming. Now, I’ve taken it a step further to create a Trivia Master Challenge that encourages students to search the library’s catalog, explore our nonfiction section, and learn how to search successfully within a book.

Trivia challenge is a clever way to get library users to explore resources they may be unfamiliar with.

The problem: Wait, there’s more?

A few years ago, my school library underwent a renovation that resulted in the majority of our physical collection being hidden around a corner. As a result, I often got surprised reactions out of students who didn’t know that there was an entire other section of the library that they couldn’t immediately see. I needed a way to get students behind the wall and into the nonfiction section more regularly than they were being brought in for classes.

The solution: The Trivia Master Challenge

When I watched this webinar about using trivia to increase ebook use, I knew this could help me solve the problem with my physical collection, so I adapted it to my needs.

Each week, I publicize a new question. Students have to come to the library, search the catalog for a book about that subject, then find the answer in a book. They submit their answer online, including the title, author and page number where they found it. This way, they still have to use the library’s resources, even if they already know the answer.

I take all the correct answers each week and do a drawing for our Trivia Masters, who then get a prize.”

Read the rest of her article here!