As you know, this week is National Library Week, and George Mason University Libraries and Special Collections & Archives has teamed up to create a video to educate library users on the proper care of library materials. This latest installment in what has become a a cottage industry among hip university library systems, features an appearance by the Mason Men’s Basketball Coach, Jim Larranaga, an original soundtrack, a library patron enjoying a meal of pizza and spaghetti in the reading room, and Jackie the Librarian. The latter has the ability t0 sniff out food-borne dangers to books, transport herself to any part of the library, and show all transgressors the proper way to treat library materials.
The University Libraries observe Preservation Awareness Day on Wednesday, April 15, and the film, The FUNdamentals of Book Care in 5 Easy Lessons, is framed in a lighthearted and whimsical manner, the film derails traditional library stereotypes and reinforces how fun a library can be.
Written, directed, and produced by Leah Donnelly, Coordinator of the George Mason Oral History Program; Veronica Fletcher, University Records Manager; and Adam Fielding, SC&A‘s Research Services Coordinator;Â the video features a soundtrack by Washington, DC guitarist Rodney Richardson. The cast includes George Mason University librarians and student employees. To view the video, visit SC&A’s YouTube Channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GMUArchives
Prolonging our Treasures through Preservation, an exhibit on the second, floor, A wing of Fenwick Library follows “a day in the life of a book,” outlines best practices for taking care of and preserving books, describes methods of book repair, and shows other non-book items the library collects and cares for, such as posters, photographs, floppy discs, digital items, etc. The exhibit is on display through the end of May.
This video is truly a valuable tool for educating non-preservation staff and library users on the care and handling of library materials. My preservation staff found it to be to-the-point, funny, and informative.
I would like to use it during a preservation awareness program scheduled for November 2009. How might I obtain a copy for that purpose and future programs?