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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the author
- Reviews
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This book demonstrates the ways in which cultivating a sense of play in library work fosters flexibility, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and increased patron and community engagement.
Play is a state of mind, and a means to have fun, explore wild ideas, and get lost in “the flow.” Not only does play make library work more enjoyable and less stressful, it can also help us do our jobs better—while making the library a much more engaging and delightful presence in the community at large. Regardless of your age, background, or comfort level, you can use a playful mindset to jumpstart your organization’s initiatives, programs, and services. As you follow this book’s roadmap, you will
- be introduced to the fundamentals of play, come to see why it remains so important even for adults, and get advice on overcoming some of the common obstacles that organizations face in incorporating play;
- explore your own personal relationships with play, using reflection prompts in each chapter;
- learn about dozens of examples of the many unexpected spaces where play can be found, encompassing public libraries, academic libraries, museums, and other settings;
- understand how playfulness can be harnessed to improve learning, teaching, engagement, and assessment in a variety of different contexts;
- read about the ins and outs of games in libraries, with profiles of several successful programs and game collections that will serve as inspirations for your own library or organization;
- find out why low-risk, high-impact making activities and makerspaces can be powerful initiatives for libraries to expand their reach;
- learn how libraries can work together with their constituents to build healthier and more welcoming communities, using play to reflect culture and history while honoring diversity; and
- gain an appreciation for the power of “playing at work” to feel relaxed, keep flexible, and joyfully collaborate with your colleagues.
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Jumping Into Play
Chapter 1 What is Play?
Chapter 2 Where is Play
Chapter 3 Assessment & Teaching
Chapter 4 Health & Wellness
Chapter 5 Playful Employees
Chapter 6 Games & Play
Chapter 7 Making culture
Chapter 8 Connecting Communities
Conclusion: Embracing the Unexpected
Appendix: Related Reading by Megan Lotts
Index
Have you read this book? Leave a review!
"The ideas for bringing play into the workspace to avoid burnout, build teams, connect with your audiences, and simply enjoy your work are broadly applicable and the examples of how creative play is incorporated in other spaces are intriguing ... It's definitely made me think about my work habits differently in how I can approach the day playfully. I often feel like I should dive into the big things first while my brain is fresh, but beginning in play also shifts your brain into problem-solving mode but with more unexpected results (advice that reminded me of the practice of 'morning pages from The Artist's Way). Lots of good ideas here."
— Abigail Zimmer (goodreads)
"Lotts talks about the benefits of integrating play into instruction, the impact of play on health and wellness, and how playful employees contribute positively to an organization. The final chapters are dedicated to incorporating maker spaces and games (toys, board games, video games, and gamification) into libraries, thus creating community connections through play ... Emphasizing that incorporating play is not a one-size-fits-all initiative, Lotts encourages readers to scale ideas to budgetary and space requirements. While this easily digestible title is primarily for library practitioners, museum professionals and pre-service teachers would also find it useful."
— Choice
"Rich with material that will surely stimulate a spirit of experimentation, if not stir a new perspective on the utility of play ... [It] serves as a reminder of the importance of embracing the value of fun in the library for both patrons and staff. This stimulating work should provide ideas and inspiration for librarians at big and small public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries; outreach librarians may also want to check this out."
— Library Journal
"Play isn’t just for kids – it’s a mind-set that can spark creativity, reduce stress, and bring joy to our work. In the library world, embracing play can transform everyday tasks into opportunities for innovation and connection, both within our teams and with the communities we serve ... [This book is] a useful primer to understand the benefits of cultivating a culture of play within library work. The examples, guidance, suggested practices, and recommended approaches offered in this book are varied and support library professionals who serve multiple communities (school, public, academic, etc.). Additionally, museum professionals and educators may also find this to be a useful guide to enhance their work environments, as well. Whether you’re launching new programs or reimagining your library’s role, this book invites you to explore how a playful mind-set can make the journey more meaningful – and a lot more fun."
— Technical Services Quarterly
"Chapters focus on play and library teaching and assessment, playful health and wellness programming, play in the workplace, games in libraries, makerspaces, and community engagement. The wealth of examples provides the book’s greatest strength ... Lotts has an engaging enthusiasm for play and readers are likely to leave the book convinced, as she is, that 'Embracing and encouraging play can be an easy, low-cost way to help us enhance the health and wellness of our organizations, improve our morale, engage our communities, and advance innovation which can strengthen our libraries in new and exciting ways' (p. 10). Librarians and archivists in both academic and public libraries will draw inspiration."
— Public Services Quarterly
"A strong throughline of flexibility, experimentation, and exploration in service of meeting community needs is apparent throughout the book. Library workers can use play to test new ideas, invite community feedback, and break down internal silos. It can serve as connective tissue between diverse communities and breathe new life into underutilized spaces in the library. Lotts makes a powerful case for adopting a playful mindset to build thriving, inclusive, and joyful library spaces."
— College & Research Libraries