OLA 2016

For many people, students in particular - choosing a topic is the scariest and most difficult part of the research process. They want to stick to safe ground where they know they'll find sources; we know that the fun happens when we explore the unknown and learn new things. Tired of helping students do research on the same topics over and over, and concerned that students weren't making the connections between research and learning, librarians at Oregon State University shifted their approach, putting curiosity at the center of the research process. With curiosity at the center, we can design lessons, displays, programs and activities that encourage patrons to follow their interests, sometimes to places they didn't know existed! And by doing it together, we reduce the fear of the unknown, and emphasize the importance of curiosity to the research process, and to lifelong learning.