Pierce Library’s Night Against Procrastination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1918Keywords:
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, Sarah Ralston, eastern Oregon university, miniature, horse, study, students, advertising, pizza, waffles, a night against procrastination, tutor, researchAbstract
There is a reason we are probably all familiar with the term “all-nighter,” whether we work in academia or elsewhere. The tendency to procrastinate is so common; most of us are likely to have had the experience of writing a paper late into the night before it is due or making a last-ditch attempt to learn concepts the night before a final exam. There are many strategies for dealing with, preventing, or avoiding procrastination, but a group of students and tutors at the European University Viadrina (EUV) in Frankfurt/Oder, Germany, came up with a novel twist on the traditional all-nighter, turning it into a strategy instead of a last resort (Datig & Herkner, 2014).
Suggested by these students, the “Long Night Against Procrastination” originated through a Writing Center-Library collaboration at EUV, and many libraries in the U.S. and abroad have adopted the model (Landgraf, 2014). The general philosophy is that students pull the all-nighter before the last minute, getting on top of assignments and out in front of exams. The events are filled with organized study breaks, activities, food, and other incentives to participate, and they present an opportunity to build goodwill between students and library staff.
Eastern Oregon University’s Writing Center planned and held EOU’s first Night Against Procrastination, or NAP, in collaboration with the Learning Center (tutor services) in Winter 2016. The event ran from 5:00 p.m. on a Friday until 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, and it featured games and activities organized by tutors every 45 minutes, pizza at 6:00 p.m., and pancakes at midnight. When the second NAP event was held in the Learning Center the following year, librarians asked to participate, and two reference librarians from Pierce Library offered research assistance alongside tutors.
Downloads
