At the tailgate, 5-year-old Olivia practices her driving skills: while Marcus Thompson, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, Matt Cromer and Beau Helton, seniors in mechanical engineering, watch her feel the need for speed. This was just one activity offered at the library tailgate. Morgan Thacker / ASSISTANT PHOTO
The Ralph Brown Draughon Library held its third annual open house orientation and tailgate last Friday where Auburn cheerleaders, Aubie and the Auburn Band performed for football fans.
The orientation and tailgate is a way for students to learn what services, like subject specialist librarians, the Digital Resource Lab and Study Partners, are available for them throughout the year, said Donna Walker of communication and marketing for the library.
From beads handed out at the front door to the moonwalk on the fourth floor, the tailgate offered activities on different floors throughout the library.
“The tailgate is a good orientation to the libraries and the services we have to offer,” Walker said. “It’s a chance to meet the staff.”
Walker said it is a great way for incoming freshmen to learn what types of services the library offers.
“When those research papers come around, they’ll remember that research section in the library,” Walker said.
The tailgate is also a way for returning students to be welcomed back to campus and refresh their memories about what is offered at the library.
“I saw the library tailgate information in The Plainsman and decided to come see it,” said Caleb Swan, a junior in marketing.
According to Walker, many Auburn fans, other than students and faculty, came by to check out the tailgate, and turnout grows from year to year.
“We had a great turnout,” Walker said. “We had a little bit of everyone. The word is starting to get around campus; more professors are telling their classes about it.”
The tailgate was recommended in the University 1000 and 1050 classes as a possible lab, Walker said.
“We got the word out to student organizations, sororities and fraternities so that they can let their new members know what is available on campus,” Walker said.
Kelly McMullen, a senior in English, came to the tailgate because she had to perform for the band, but stayed to enjoy the rest of the festivities.
“I came to the one last year, and it was a little bigger, but this year it seemed like everyone has come because they want to be here,” McMullen said.
McMullen completed her punch card to turn in to the raffle and had free food.
“It was a lot of fun, it got me excited for (the game),” McMullen said.
Other activities offered were at the event, “Rolling Library Corner” where fans could practice their toilet papering on the fourth floor, a moon bounce, a shooting duck game and free Coke Zero, food, beads and prizes.
The tailgate is part of the librarian instruction budget.
“Librarians teach research and scholarly lessons,” Walker said, “So those librarians put this together to reach out to the community.”
The library tailgate has always been held the Friday before the first home football game.
“It’s held on a Friday because people already have their own game day plans,” Walker said. “It’s still close enough to the game weekend to be relevant.”
There were 1,750 visitors, which Walker said made a great turnout.
“The AU Libraries are pleased to have an event like Tailgate at the Library,” said Nancy Noe, Libraries’ Instruction Coordinator. “The tailgate allows us to connect with our users.”
