What comes to mind when you envision a lecture-based library orientation? Boring? Passive? Impersonal? On this site, we share why we decided to change a well-received, active, Amazing Race orientation to a large-scale, lecture-style presentation that didn’t even take place in the library. The Cephalonian method, first used at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, uses audience participation to create a lively and seemingly spontaneous question and answer session to present information. Our #MyEckerdLibrary themed orientation event expanded on the Cephalonian model by integrating polling software and student participation, allowing us to leverage community and campus partnerships, and highlight an overall theme reflective of our campus culture. The result was a fun, engaging, and informative session requiring minimal library resources and staff time to implement, and created an even more personal introduction to the library for incoming students.
Contributed paper to be presented at the 2017 ACRL Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.