Library Takeovers: After Hours Nerf Games and More at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

Authors

  • Bonnie Brzozowski Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
  • Elizabeth Johnson Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
  • Kristy Kemper Hodge Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1922

Keywords:

Oregon, Oregon libraries, academic library, libraries, librarians, northwest, information science, information literacy, social media, writing, library trends, books, donors, library funding, Oregon library association, quarterly, Oregon library association quarterly, American library association, ala, ola, reading, library success, success, evolving roles, OSU, Oregon state, University, web services, public, new discipline, changes in libraries, career, careers, library careers, library career, professional journal, scholarly, academic, circulation, Portland, Multnomah County Library, innovative, inventive, solution, oregon librarians, librarian, political, politics, political action, association, civics, civic education, inspiring, engagement, role, participation, skills, create, creating, resources, develop, source, evaluate, evaluation, evaluating, programming, takeaway, program, programs, esther moberg, makerspace, homeless, patrons, stem, steam, money smart, resource sharing, unlock the box, lockbox, adulting 101, procrastination, takeover, nerf, youth, family, Corvallis Benton county public library, tween, adult, fun, considerations, blaster

Abstract

The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library (CBCPL) has been hosting action-packed after-hours events for all ages since July 2017. Referred to as Takeovers, these events involve crafts, video games, Nerf games, and more—all while the library is closed. Each Takeover event is tailored to a specific age group (either tweens, teens, or adults) and people from outside that age group are not permitted in the library during the event. Takeovers are all about having fun and connecting with others and have proven to be incredibly popular; for example, registration and attendance caps are necessary for the Tween Takeovers to be sure the library can accommodate all that want to attend. This article will discuss the origin of the idea for CBCPL’s Takeovers, how these events are planned and coordinated, tips for any library interested in hosting their own Takeovers, and the ways in which these events tie into the CBCPL mission.

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Author Biographies

Bonnie Brzozowski, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

Bonnie Brzozowski is a Reference Librarian at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library where she has worked since 2011. Bonnie has been selecting graphic novels and cookbooks for libraries for ten years and leading a Graphic Novel Book Club for seven years. She is a Texas native and University of North Carolina alumna. She loves graphic novels, origami, hip-hop, Tex Mex, and gardens. She lives on an acre with her husband, two chickens, and three cats.

Elizabeth Johnson, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

Elizabeth Johnson is a Youth Reference Librarian at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. She received her MLS from Emporia State University in 2012 with an emphasis on children and youth services. When Elizabeth is not organizing the chaos of Tween Nerf, she spends most of her time planning programs for tweens, leading baby storytimes, and managing the juvenile non-fiction collection. She loves middle grade fantasy fiction, knitting, and the Great British Baking Show. She lives with her husband of ten years and two young children.

Kristy Kemper Hodge, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

Kristy Kemper Hodge is the Teen Services Librarian at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, where she’s approaching her fourth anniversary. She discovered a love and passion for working with teens while employed at a hospital as a volunteer and career development coordinator, and, to this day, teens remain some of her most favorite people (especially middle schoolers). She serves on the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Selection Committee and loves to talk books, bake, visit the beach, unabashedly read YA lit, and dabble in arts and crafts.

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Published

2018-04-06

How to Cite

Brzozowski, B., Johnson, E., & Kemper Hodge, K. (2018). Library Takeovers: After Hours Nerf Games and More at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. OLA Quarterly, 23(4), 35–39. https://doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1922

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 4 (2017): Sushi, STEM, or Goat Yoga: Successful Library Programming

Section

Articles