The event lasted from 7 to 9 p.m., and featured refreshments as well as a wide array of information, music and activities intended to acquaint students with the library and its multitude of resources.
"We wanted to have one night when students could come and there would not only be information but fun," Director of Jones Media Center Mike Beahan said.
Last year's open house had the same goal. While the library staff found it hard to say whether the event led to an increase in the use of the library's resources, the freshmen did seem more comfortable and less intimidated by the staff.
"For weeks afterwards, I had first years saying 'hi' to me in the halls," Ridie Ghezzi, Head of Research and Instruction Services in Baker-Berry library, said.
This year's open house featured a multitude of activities such as a scavenger hunt raffle that led students to various places in Baker-Berry library. Students got their tickets punched at the Book Arts Workshop, the Circulation Desk, Jones Media Center and RWit, to name a few. They also received punches at five tables set up in Baker Hall, each table devoted to a different library system. After handing in a fully punched ticket, students were entered into a drawing where they had three chances to win $100 cash.
The purpose of this activity was "to get first-years into Baker-Berry and learn where main things are," Ghezzi said. She expressed hope that the open house will give incoming students a feeling of ownership in the library, making them feel more comfortable when researching or asking a member of the library staff for help.
Along with this raffle, the program offered a slightly more complex one that requires students to travel to each of the five library buildings -- Feldberg Library, Dana Library, Kresge Library, Paddock Library and Rauner Library-to get their respective tickets punched. The tickets are due on October 28th, and the winner of the drawing will receive a USB drive.
"Both raffles are to help students learn where different services are within the library system," Rhezzi said, yet she notes that this raffle is helpful because the students have to physically go to each of the five library buildings, which better acquaints them with the library system.
The library also used this open house to showcase its "Random Acts of Art" program. Once a month, student performers are given the opportunity to perform for 15 to 20 minutes during lunchtime in Novack Caf. This Friday, the Ujima dance troupe will be performing. The library tries to plan these shows close to times when the student groups are having larger performances to allow them to publicize.
"'Random Acts of Art' brings in student performance groups from all over the college. It is a way to showcase student talents," Ghezzi said.
Along their scavenger hunt, students also traveled to the library's Book Arts workshop, which enables them to set metal type and press this type onto high-quality paper. This workshop can be used to create books of poetry and short stories.
"It would be great if people found out about [the Book Arts workshop] their first year so they can take advantage of it throughout their time at Dartmouth," Beahan said.
Wednesday night provided the opportunity for the library to reintroduce its "Put a Lid On It" campaign, where students were given securely lidded cups that prevent spills. Students can take these cups to Novack to receive a discount on large coffees.
Beahan mentioned that the purpose of this campaign is "to have students not feel like they're restricted from bringing cups into the library, but to have them bring covered, reusable cups."
Another aspect of the library that was featured at the open house was the News Center, managed by Heather Gere, Information Coordinator. The News Center features the Library Press Display, which gives students access to newspapers from all over the world.
"This is amazing because you see the papers in full format. It is a fabulous new resource," Gere said.
One important feature of the News Center that the open house emphasized is that the databases and services it provides, like the Library Press Display, are not available freely on the internet. These are electronic resources that the library subscribes to, and that students are encouraged to make use of freely.
Overall, student reactions to the event were positive.
"Personally, I love libraries," said Maura Cass '10. "I didn't know about the Special Collections Library, but it seems really interesting. [The open house] will make me more aware of what our library has to offer, and how vast it is."
However, neither Cass nor fellow freshman Caroline Cima were surprised by the vast amount of resources the library offers.
"I learned about them during the college admissions process," said Cima. "It's one of the things that made me want to come to Dartmouth."
Ultimately, the library hopes that this open house has given students a better idea of what the library has to offer them.
"We see research as a process, and the earlier students get comfortable with the library, the earlier they can take advantage of the library's resources, including librarians," Ghezzi said.
