In the 21st century Academic Art Libraries and scholarly research in the Arts is becoming a fluid idea that is expanding at a rapid pace. Academic art libraries and librarians are looking more at outreach, engagement, digital humanities, fair use and copyright, visual literacy, as well as addressing life-long learning skills. In our current times, librarians must think about what happens within the art Library, but what is also possible outside the art Library. The Rutgers University Art Librarian strives to connect with the arts communities on the Rutgers campuses by engaging students, faculty, and staff, both inside and outside of the library. This includes embedded reference hours in department lobbies, curating active low-cost exhibition spaces, pop-up makerspaces, and engaging experiences with living artists. These unique experiences in and out of the art Library go “beyond the book” by highlighting unique collections, patrons might not be aware of within the Libraries. As well, these moments of outreach and engagement strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration and prove that libraries are a crucial component to the educational experience. This presentation will review and highlight interesting ways in which academic art libraries are engaging with patrons, as well as look at low-cost practical high impact examples of turning outward from the Rutgers University Libraries.

1. TheArt Library, Inside and
Outside:Outreach &
Engagement inAcademic
Art Libraries
Megan Lotts,Art Librarian
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

2. Roles of Library
Liaisons in the
Arts
• Outreach
• Engagement
• Digital Humanities
• Fair Use/Copyright/Open Access
• Data Literacies
• Visual Literacy
• Life-long Learning Skills
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http://kkbold.com/4-fictional-character-traits-to-emulate/

3. Engaging with
Departments
Liaison Librarian embedded
reference hours
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4. Engaging with
Departments
Exhibition Spaces
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5. Engaging with
Departments
Events
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6. Engaging with
Departments
Experience with Living Artists
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7. Engaging with
Departments
Pop-up Makerspaces
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8. Why DoesThis
All Matter?
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9. Questions &
Thanks
Megan Lotts, MFA, M.L.I.S
Art Librarian
Rutgers, the State University of New
Jersey
(848)932-7189
megan.lotts@rutgers.edu
www.meganlotts.com
link to work in Rucore:
http://soar.libraries.rutgers.edu/bib/Me
gan_Lotts/
@MCLotts

10. Citations &
Readings
– Lotts, Megan and Tara Maharjan. “Engagement, Learning, Outreach, and Fun in 60 Seconds: Button Making at the
Rutgers University Libraries.” College & Research Libraries News (2018). (forth-coming)
– Lotts, Megan. “Legos in the Library,” chapter 11 in The Maker Librarian’s Sourcebook, ed. Elyssa Valenti (Chicago:
American Libraries Association, 2017).
– Lotts, Megan. “Low Cost High-Impact Makerspaces at the Rutgers University Art Library.” Art Documentation 36, (Fall
2017): 345- 362.
– Lotts, Megan. “On the Road, Playing with LEGO, and Learning about the Library: The Rutgers Art Library Lego Playing
Station, Part Two.” Journal of Library Administration 56, Iss. 5 (Summer 2016): 499-525.
– Lotts, Megan. “Playing with LEGO, Learning about the Library and ‘Making’ Campus Connections: The Rutgers Art
Library Lego Playing Station, Part One.” Journal of Library Administration 56, Iss. 4 (May 2016): 359-380.
– Lotts, Megan. “Coloring outside the Information Literacy Lines”. Association of College & Research Libraries and
American Library Association Instruction Section Newsletter 34, no. 2 (Fall 2017): 5-6.
– Lotts, Megan. “Floating Castles, Legos, Candy, and Play: Counterplay 2016.” Library Hi Tech News 33, no. 5 (June 2016):
18-20.
– Lotts, Megan. “Landscape Architecture Students Play with Legos to Learn About the Library.” Association of Collegiate
Schools of Architecture AASL Column, (May 12, 2016).
– Lotts, Megan. “Building Bridges, Creating Partnerships, and Elevating the Arts.” College & Research Libraries News 77, no.
5 (May 2016): 226-230.
– Lotts, Megan. “Implementing a Culture of Creativity: Pop Up Making Spaces and Participating Events in Academic
Libraries.” College & Research Libraries News 76, no. 2 (February 2015): 72-75.
– Lotts, Megan. “Woodblock Woodstock: The Drive By Press at Morris Library.” College & Research Libraries News 74, no. 2
(February 2013): 86-89.
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