Going "Slow:" Leading the Slow Books Movement at an Academic Library

Abstract

In a March 23, 2012 blog post on The Atlantic website, author Maura Kelly argues for a new “slow” movement, the “Slow Books Movement.” Not unlike the Slow Foods’ call for a more healthful, substantive diet, the Slow Books Movement challenges readers to choose more substantive reading material—serious literature that encourages quiet contemplation and that broadens self-awareness. Slow Books is neither an alarmist reaction to technology nor a nostalgic longing for the past—meaningful works of literature exist whether in electronic or print formats. Rather, the point of slow reading is simply to challenge minds and stimulate reflection. Academic libraries, as repositories of the literary printed (and digital) word, are perfectly positioned to lead this movement. By embracing a reader’s advisory role, academic librarians can help create new readers, inspire existing readers, and build literary communities. This poster demonstrates how one academic librarian is engaging students through blogging, book clubs, and reader’s advisory in order to promote slow reading on campus. Outreach strategies and evaluation methods (including analytics, surveys, and user feedback) are explained step-by-step so that librarians can apply these findings and implement these programs and practices on their own campuses.