C&RL News, January 2004
Vol. 65, No. 1
by Pat Van Zandt
Who would have thought that a publication mounted only in bathroom stalls in the main library would become the most popular library publication (and one of the most popular publications overall) on campus? But that’s what happened with “The Throne,” an irregular newsletter issued by the staff of Swem Library of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The idea for “The Throne” was shamelessly borrowed from Stall Talk of the University of Virginia Libraries. A Swem librarian attending a meeting there discovered a copy in the ladies room and took the idea back to her supervisors, who gave her permission to give it a try. After much brainstorming, the staff came up with the title of the publication to honor King William III and Queen Mary II, who chartered the college in 1693 (making it the second college in the American colonies). A logo of William and Mary on their respective thrones graces the masthead of each issue.
“The Throne” always showcases one or two interesting print or electronic resources available to William and Mary students. Other features have included brief (and always humorous and lighthearted) articles on famous librarians in history, including the Brothers Grimm, Casanova, and St. Jerome, as well as librarians in the movies (as in Party Girl and Desk Set). One issue invited readers to respond to an online survey about their favorite bathroom reading, with results featured in the next issue. The presence of a full-time graphic designer on Swem Library’s staff assures that each colorful issue of “The Throne” is visually as well as intellectually appealing.
We knew that “The Throne” was becoming popular when one of the editors was conducting a bibliographic instruction session. While waiting for the online catalog to bring back search results, she asked the students if they knew how many items the catalog had to look through. When one student tentatively answered, “About a million,” she asked how he knew that figure. The answer: “I read it in ‘The Throne!’” Other students in the class chimed in with “We love ‘The Throne’!” Since then, a student newspaper survey has voted the Swem Library bathrooms the best on campus, stating that “what really sets these particular bathrooms above all the rest is the including of a … newsletter, ‘The Throne,’ that covers all sorts of hygiene and library trivia” (The Flat Hat, February 14, 2003, p. 14).
“The Throne” is an excellent example of how a small idea, given encouragement, can pay big dividends. “The Throne” is only distributed within library bathrooms, so actual publication cost (paper and plastic wall-mounted covers) is less than $30 per month. However, the value of positive publicity for library services and staff, combined with the opportunity to provide entertainment and enlightenment to patrons, is priceless.
“The Throne” began publication in June 2002 and continues on a more-or-less bimonthly basis. Current editors and writers of “The Throne” are Pat Van Zandt and Cyndi Mack (replacing Jessica Fischer); graphic designer is Karen McCluney. Other staff contribute articles on occasion.
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Hot off the press from ACRL: New publications on digital reference and assessment
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| Digital Reference Research Agenda The Digital Reference Research Agenda, Publications in Librarianship no. 55, a compilation of the proceedings of the Digital Reference Research Symposium held in August 2002, is now available from ACRL. Included are detailed chapters on specific aspects of the agenda, including how digital reference relates to digital libraries, education for digital reference, question negotiation online, and the unique costs and benefits of digital reference. Current thinking and research in digital reference are drawn together to create a bridge between researchers and practitioners. Edited by R. David Lankes, Scott Nicholson, and Abby Goodrum. $24.00, 195p. ISBN. 0-8389-8231-X, 2003. Assessing Student Learning Outcomes Well done assessment is essential to documenting the effects of information literacy programs and the degree to which they are meeting their objectives. The assessment process can also assist anyone involved in information literacy instruction by getting them actively involved in the process and engaged in classroom activities, giving them feedback about students’ thinking and learning, and helping them focus on goals and objectives of the course. Assessing Student Learning Outcomes for Information Literacy Instruction in Academic Institutions by Elizabeth Fuseler Avery gives librarians the tools needed to create baseline data that will support the merits of information literacy programs in their institutions. Methods and skills that have been used to carry out effective assessment programs are illustrated, including deciding what is to be learned from the program, establishing learning outcomes, data analysis, consideration of costs, and involvement of faculty. $29.00, 308 p. ISBN. 0-8389-8261-1, 2003. Order today To order these and other books and to see the complete ACRL publications catalog, visit www.acrl.org/publications. ACRL members receive a 10% discount on all publications. |
About the Author
Pat Van Zandt is science librarian at the College of William and Mary, e-mail: pxhaus@wm.edu