New student orientation - Hosting a murder mystery in the library

From Library Instruction Wiki

• Author: Carleton College, Gould Library

• Type of resource: Activity

• Method of delivery: Web site

• Intended audience: Instructional Librarians

• Keywords: library tour, student orientation

• URL: http://www.carleton.edu/campus/library/reference/workshops/MurderMystery.html

• Date added: 7/22/2005

Description

(from: http://www.carleton.edu/campus/library/reference/workshops/MurderMystery.html)

The library can be a scary and mysterious place for new students in their first week at college. What better opportunity, then, to host a murder mystery?

On September 13th, 2002, the Friends of the Library (a volunteer student organization) and a reference librarian did just that. The Friends specialize in promotional events for Gould Library and plan activities for new students every year, but this was the first time the library has hosted a murder mystery. Planning and preparation took about two months, culminating in an exclusive New Student Week event - on the night of Friday the 13th, coincidentally. Our goal was to educate as well as entertain, presenting students with a series of clues that required them to check out an article on reserve, look up an online subject guide, use the catalog and another database, and navigate the four floors of the library.