The Pop-Up Library accompanies a program in the Museum's galleries. All photos by the author
«Pop-up shops for goods ranging from crafts to cupcakes are all the rage across New York City. People are drawn to the playfulness and convenience of these small stores, whose impermanence can make them creative and nimble. Could the same model work for a library? We think so!»
Here in Thomas J. Watson Library, we're always looking for new and exciting ways to connect library resources with Met visitors, and the Pop-Up Library presented by Nolen Library is one of our latest outreach initiatives.
The Pop-Up Library boasts colorful selections in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art's galleries
The Pop-Up Library began as a pilot endeavor to bring Nolen Library resources into The Met's galleries in conjunction with art-making programs offered to visitors of all ages. The goal of this initiative was two-fold: to make relevant art resources accessible to visitors at a new point of contact in the Museum, and to promote awareness of the Museum's libraries to a broader audience.
A sign at a in-gallery welcome station invites participants to visit Nolen Library to "find inspiration in library collections and delve deeper into creative research."
We curate a selection of titles, from picture books to monographs, that directly support the art activity taking place and enhance the participants' experiences. The cart is also stocked with Nolen brochures, bookmarks, information about our social media accounts, as well as a laminated FAQ sheet for easy reference. It has been a terrific opportunity to showcase the resources Nolen Library has for all ages in programs with equally diverse audiences, and the response has been positive.
Teens consult graphic novels and manga from Nolen Library's collection during the recent Teen Studio: Manga event
The success of the pilot led us to expand the Pop-Up Library's activities. It has been a welcome addition to several Teen Studio programs as well as special events like Teens Take The Met!, Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Monkey, and Time Travelers: The Family Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In some cases, library staff have had the opportunity to deliver a library introduction or provide an impromptu Storytime occurrence.
What could be better than books on the go? Books and sunshine!
During the warmer months, we ventured outdoors and invited Met visitors and passersby to relax with a book from the Pop-Up Library on The Met's plaza. Library staff added a friendly face to the mobile operation and greeted browsers and answered questions connected to the library—as well as a few unrelated ones like "Where is Central Park?" . . . to which we responded, "You're almost there!"
The Pop-Up Library will continue to support The Met collection, the Museum's programs, and visitors' experiences by providing connections to library resources in fun and unexpected places. Where would you like to see us pop up next?