Crack the Case: an information literacy program.

1. CRACK THE CASE
DUKE IMPACT REPORT
Prepared by Michelle Orr
Images by Designs by JK
5/8/2015

2. CRACK THE CASE
2
The
James
B.
Duke
Memorial
Library
partnered
with
faculty
and
students
in
the
Criminology
department
to
host
a
Mystery
in
the
Library,
a
program
focused
on
teaching
students
important
informa@on
literacy
skills
in
an
entertaining
and
ac@ve
learning
program.
The
event
was
made
a
part
of
the
Criminology
department’s
Crime,
Jus@ce,
and
Law
Week,
which
featured
ac@vi@es
surrounding
the
Criminology
major.

3. Dr. Nicola Bivens, Latifiya Williams (the
Criminology Student Association
President), and librarians Julie Reed,
Michelle Orr, and Geneen Clinkscales
came together and collaborated to create a
event in two parts: a scavenger hunt and a
crime scene. The purpose of the
scavenger hunt was to introduce the
students to information literacy skills that
focused on the variety of types of
resources located in the library and online.
The crime scene was set up for students to
be exposed to searching for information to
solve a murder mystery.
Librarians Julie Reed and Michelle Orr
created questions that had students look at
resources in the Reference, Journal, and
General Collections, as well as utilizing two
online databases: LexisNexis Academic
and ProQuest Criminal Justice. The crime
scene was set up by Dr. Nicola Bivens and
students from the Criminology Student
Association to show information that led to
evidence about a fictional crime that
occurred.
3

4. The library began marketing the event
through the JCSU News and face-to-face
marketing using mini cards printed with a
logo and URL linking to a webpage with
The library began marketing the event
through the JCSU News and face-to-face
marketing using mini cards printed with a
logo and URL linking to a webpage with
more information and a link to sign up for
the event. We used EventBrite, an online
ticket site, for students to sign up for the
event. Our ticket sales were capped at 50
people and we had 48 students sign up.
During the week prior to the event, Julie
Reed tweeted hints via Twitter and posted
images on the library’s Instagram account.
We let the students know of these hints.
11 students from the Criminology Student
Association volunteered to help with the
event. These students helped set up the
crime scene, walked student participants
through the crime scene, and reviewed
answers to scavenger hunt questions.
4

5. 5
On Friday, March 20, 2015, we had 22 students show up to participate at the event. Paper tickets were issued while some students
used the Eventbrite mobile app ticket for entrance. Only students with tickets were allowed entrance. Geneen Clinkscales and Mi-
chelle Orr greeted the participants and laid down the ground rules of the scavenger hunt and the crime scene. Students were given an
envelope with 12 questions regarding the various resources they were there to discover and were required to answer only 10 of the
questions. They were required to fill out the coroner’s report for the crime scene. It was made clear to them that the first team that an-
swered all questions correctly would be declared the winner and we would also have a second and third place. CSA students, Dr. Ni-
cola Bivens, and Julie Reed occupied the Faculty Sandbox that was set up as a crime scene. Students were given a crime scene
analysis sheet and Dr. Nicola Bivens and CSA students assisted participants by guiding them through the scene. A fingerprint kit was
also set up for experimentation. Geneen Clinkscales and Michelle Orr worked with the CSA students to verify answers to information
literacy questions and gave directions to students when it was needed.
The competition lasted a little over an hour and groups were quick to have their answers checked and to claim their prizes. We had 3
groups of winners.

6. 6
Student experiences were captured
through a survey via Google Forms. We
received a total of 8 responses from the
participants in the activity. There were a
variety of majors that participated although
the respondents were either Seniors or
Freshmen. Most were already library users
and each had their own view about which
question was the hardest to answer.
Overall, students seemed to enjoy the
event and they were able to list resources
that they used to find answers to the
questions and show that they learned
some information literacy skills during the
program.
The significance of this project on the
community of Johnson C. Smith University
is that we were able to collaborate well
across departments and also include a
student group in the planning and delivery
of an activity that provided an information
literacy activity in a competitive and active
environment. We had 22 students
participate in the competitive event and 11
CSA students were also affected since they
were instructed by the librarians about the
resources available. We have had an
inquiry from SC State University to learn
more about the processes surrounding our
event and we are seeking a conference or
paper submission to highlight our program
as a replicable model.

7. 5/8/2015 Crack the Case Survey - Google Forms
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1clxZSKAGNvG5KMU7uo15sY6OQ19bCV_28zZAPwTHAa4/viewanalytics 1/4
Freshman 3 37.5%
Sophomore 0 0%
Junior 0 0%
Senior 5 62.5%
8 responses
View all responses Publish analytics
Summary
What year are you?
What is your major?
Information Systems Engineering
Criminology
Accounting
Computer engineering
History
Communications
IDS­ Communication Arts and Religion
csis
How did you find out about this event?
librarian
Victoria Davis
Dr. Bivens
word of mouth
Edit this form

8. 5/8/2015 Crack the Case Survey - Google Forms
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1clxZSKAGNvG5KMU7uo15sY6OQ19bCV_28zZAPwTHAa4/viewanalytics 2/4
Database 7 87.5%
Journal 1 12.5%
Fiction book 1 12.5%
Reference book 3 37.5%
Archival material 0 0%
Catalog 3 37.5%
General Collection book 5 62.5%
Video 0 0%
Website 4 50%
A friend
Ms. Orr
JCSU Emails, friends
My roommate
Choose three resources that you used to find answers:
How often do you use the library?

9. 5/8/2015 Crack the Case Survey - Google Forms
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1clxZSKAGNvG5KMU7uo15sY6OQ19bCV_28zZAPwTHAa4/viewanalytics 3/4
Never 1 12.5%
1­3 times per week 5 62.5%
4­6 times per week 1 12.5%
Everyday 1 12.5%
What was the hardest question to answer?
How many people were arrested 2007
Cracking the case
I don't remember :(
Do juvenile defenders get harder sentences than their young adult counterparts
Looking for the Harvard law case
the dictionary
The question that had criminology in it volume 48
Which question was the easiest?
reference number related
The three studies
The forensic science question
The call number of one of the books
What's the defintion of void dire in the black law dictionary and Harrison narcotic drug act
of 1914
Looking for the call number.
The milk carton boy
What did you like about this event and/or what would you change?
Explain the case more
I liked the competitive aspect of the game. The only thing I would change is to give more
instruction at the actual crime scene.
Give clear and concise instruction at the crime scene. Create a sheet that requires the
information participants should be cognizant of rather than a form that doesn't allow for
the participant to complete the necessary tasks.
How organized it was
I liked working as a group and being very active with everyone
I liked the team work investigation that took place. I would give more instruction on the
crime scene investagation

10. 5/8/2015 Crack the Case Survey - Google Forms
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1clxZSKAGNvG5KMU7uo15sY6OQ19bCV_28zZAPwTHAa4/viewanalytics 4/4
That I was able to learn something new. I also gained a new way to search for information
in the library! I even learned about indexes. I now know I can use this information for
papers and feel good that it is a reliable source. I really enjoyed this event, and the
murder mystery task was sooooo coooool!!
Some criminology books have very similar names
Number of daily responses