Brick & Click 2020

The Smithsonian’s “World War I (WWI): Lessons and Legacies” poster exhibition was awarded to a Midwestern library. This presentation discusses lessons that can be learned from the collaboration and programming of the Outreach Services Librarian with the Library Arts Exhibit Curator to promote an 8-poster series that explores the history of the war and its lasting impacts on American lives to the university and wider community. A set of programming activities involving collaboration with various university departments led to a lecture series, open house, and a worksheet/scavenger hunt for class assignments. Displays relevant to WWI were showcased throughout the library displaying artifacts, photographs, clippings, and other rare historical items pertaining to WWI. As well, the library displayed books, DVDs, and other materials related to WWI and encouraged lecture series attendees to check them out. The Smithsonian poster series became an important educational foundation for our campus as faculty incorporated these posters, lecture series, and open house in their classes. This presentation discusses steps taken to create our library’s successful collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and various university departments to better promote our library and its services.