Libraries Faculty and Staff Create 125 Videos to Showcase Offerings
Joseph Mesco records a video of the Sci-Fi Station
This summer, the University Libraries took an all-hands-on-deck approach to showcase things the CMU community can do in and around the library. At the annual Libraries gathering on July 31, faculty and staff joined together to record 125 short-form videos highlighting physical and virtual spaces, resources, services, and activities.
Videos belong to one of several different categories, including Research, Spaces, Teaching and Learning, and Distinctive Collections. Videos from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar offer a chance to explore a library across the world, while videos about the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology (IDeATe) network and Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation share additional offerings available at Libraries locations in Pittsburgh. Other videos fall into the Silly category, giving team members a chance to show off their sense of humor along with lesser-known resources.
Data Education Librarian Emma Slayton viewed the project as a chance to tap into her playful side. Her team approached prompts by considering what students would find engaging, and then adding a humorous spin.
“We tried to see the library as our students might see it, capturing some of the lesser-known spaces in a way that might encourage students to spend time with us in Hunt or using the resources we think are the most fun,” she reflected.
For Arts and Humanities Librarian Jill Chisnell, the project was an opportunity to show off some of the artistic resources available on the fourth floor of Hunt Library.
“I have access to special items that we don't shelve in the open stacks,” Chisnell said. “Since I teach with the artists' books, I know that Tauba Auerbach's “[2,3]” is a popular title. The pop-up paper sculptures always bring wonder and joy. The little artists' books are sweet. They even have their own appropriately sized shelves.”
Her group featured some of these volumes in their videos, playing with framing and perspective to highlight unique aspects of the books.
Another group focused on IDeATe spaces, introducing the community to the labs and studios that make up the IDeATe collaborative making facility located in the basement of Hunt Library.
“We shot in the lending library, the sewing room, and the woodshop, which was my favorite since I tinker in a small woodshop at home,” said Anniversary Exhibits and Publishing Managing Editor Brad King, who was a part of the group. “It was a great excuse to play around in spaces we don’t always get to use and to show off what makes the Libraries unique. I didn't realize we had all of that equipment in the building.”
In total, Libraries faculty and staff recorded over 50 videos on July 31 alone. In the weeks following the gathering, video production continued, but the initial push set the tone for the fun, spontaneous spirit of the project.
“The process of creating these videos was designed to be as collaborative as the Libraries themselves,” said Associate Dean of External Relations Shannon Riffe, who created the initiative. “By bringing faculty and staff together to brainstorm, script, and film, we captured not only 125 unique ways to experience the Libraries, but also the creativity and energy of the people who make them central to campus life.”
“The short video format feels like the perfect way to connect with the campus community, especially as a way to showcase the wide range of resources available in the Libraries,” King added. “It’s approachable, lighthearted, and engaging, which makes it a fun and effective way to invite people in and encourage them to explore everything we have to offer.”
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then 125 videos are worth many more. See what the Libraries faculty and staff have to say about the variety of resources available to the CMU community in the 125 Things to Do at CMU Libraries video series, and visit Libraries locations this semester to explore even more offerings.