Thinking Outside the Book:Experimenting with
Creative Tool and Object Librarianship
at the Banff CentreMarianne R. Williams
Alberta Library ConferenceJasper, AlbertaApril 30, 2016
● Born and raised on a farm an hour south of Edmonton
● Spent formative years at the Camrose Public Library
● Recent graduate of the Master of Information and Master of Museum Studies programs at the University of Toronto
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Introduction
The Banff Centre
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Information
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The Creative Tool and Object Librarianship reference model
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Courtesy of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Archive. All rights reserved.
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Courtesy of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Archive. All rights reserved.
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Courtesy of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Archive. All rights reserved.
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Image copyright Sarah Ratchford, BlogTO.
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Courtesy of Institute for a Resource Based Economy, All rights reserved
Toronto Tool Library pop-up at the Toronto Public Library, photo by Tim Hicken, 2015
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Courtesy of Pret a Preter, 2016. All rights reserved.
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Creative Tool and Object Library● Project proposal● Project phases
○ Development: October and November 2015■ Meetings with Banff Staff and designing methodology for survey■ Distributing survey
○ Analysis: December 2015 and January 2016■ Analysis of data, brief report, list of objects, policy drafts■ Purchase and cataloguing of objects
○ Launch: February - March 2016■ Web application and exhibition opening■ Opening reception - Feb. 29, 2016
○ Assessment: March - April 2016■ Policy reassessment■ Circulation statistics
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Project Proposal“I propose a new library service in non-book lending, where patrons are invited [...] to access information through an innovative library model of borrowing and lending of items such as tools, materials, clothing, and other objects.
Through this project, patrons will be encouraged to borrow
and lend items that inspire experimentation, curiosity, confusion, and creativity.”
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Research Methodology
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Quantitative Data
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Other items field analysis
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Qualitative Data
“I'm sure I have things kicking around that might be useful[...]”
“It could be a great way to centralize a lot of 'things' strewn about
campus that can be hard to access but useful to
staff/artists/practicums when they need them.”
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“[I]t’s important especially with so many people who are
transient workers [...] to be able to access things instead
of constantly buying and ditching.”
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“A pasta machine is often used in printmaking as a makeshift tool.”
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“Bearbells are completely useless objects and have been scientifically proven that they do nothing to deter bears. Only tourists use them.”
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Photo courtesy of Jessica
Wittman, 2016What objects got into the CTOL?
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MARC Catalogue
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Questions
● Have you experimented with creative tools and objects at your library?
● What objects or tools do you think your library patrons might borrow?
● Would your library experiment with a project like this? Why or why not?
● What do you wish you could borrow from the library?
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Thinking Outside the Book:Experimenting with
Creative Tool and Object Librarianship
at the Banff CentreMarianne R. Williams
Alberta Library ConferenceJasper, AlbertaApril 30, 2016