SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY UNVEILS “AWESOME BOX” PROJECT
Partnership with Harvard University Innovation Lab Helps Residents Share “Awesome” Ideas at Public Libraries
Library, in a partnership with the Harvard Library Innovation Lab, is launching
the "Awesome Box" project at all three library branches in early February. The
first municipal partnership of its kind, the "Awesome Box" will allow patrons
to share "awesome" book suggestions with fellow readers by depositing checked
books into the Box rather than into the regular "Returns" bin. "Awesome" books will be linked to a website
for community members to learn about and explore potential book titles.
"Somerville is the first public
library to partner on the 'Awesome Box' project, and in keeping with our City's
streak of innovative programming and ideas, this is a great new program that we're
fortunate to be able to offer residents," said Maria Carpenter, Director of the
Somerville Public Library. "We are always looking for dynamic, innovative and
creative approaches to library service, and this certainly fits the bill."
Here's how it will work: When a patron
particularly enjoys an item, he or she will return the book into the "Awesome
Box," which will be clearly labeled with appropriate signage. Then, a library
staff member will scan the book twice - once, checking the book in as usual,
then another time to list that item on the "awesome" page, which can be found
here: http://librarylab.law.harvard.edu/somerville/.
Patrons can then visit the page and
see what others have found notably enlightening, mind-blowing or helpful
recently. There is also a "most awesome" section, which shows the items that
were most thought to be awesome. Users can also search for items that are
listed as awesome. When patrons click on the media's icon, it takes them to the
item's listing on the Minuteman Library Network catalog, so that they can read
more about the item and its availability or place it on hold.
For more information about this
project, contact Maria Carpenter at 617-623-5000 or mcarpenter@somervillema.gov.
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