My favorite part of visiting other campuses is wandering through their libraries to see what ideas inspire me. I’m at SUNY Cobleskill today, and here are my favorite bits from my brief visit to the library:

Explanations.   

I think we too often just do things and expect our users to either comply or understand or both… But maybe we could actually explain ourselves. 

Slightly whimsical signs  

This is how the loud/quiet floors are distinguished. I love this. That’s all. I may steal the idea wholesale. 

Engaging students as people

Topical displays and popular reading collections aren’t the traditional “job” of academic libraries – but they inspire curiosity and engagement and isn’t that the job of libraries?