Starting an exhibits program at your library sounds like an easy and fun way to engage users with your collections. Reserving the exhibits space for student-led programming can be a way foster independent research and to facilitate collaboration between students and librarians. Unexpected challenges arise when an instruction librarian advocates for a student-led exhibits case in the library and gets what she asked for. This poster will present lessons learned, missteps and successes from the first year of our exhibits program, including the ins and outs of purchasing an exhibits case, writing policies and procedures and collaborating across the library to build a vibrant and compelling space for students to engage and teach with our collections. I’ll also share next steps and goals for the program.
