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Abstract: PAPER: Our Mythic Potential: The Hero’s Journey and The Library’s Story
It has long been understood that stories can be powerful marketing tools (Sachs 2012, Lee & Shin 2015, Pan & Chen 2019, König 2020). Existing research has examined stories that employees tell about libraries and the stories libraries tell to promote themselves (Aldrich, Knisely, & Get Storied 2014; Eicher-Catt & Edmondson 2016). As Aldrich, Knisely, and the Get Storied Team (2014) point out “Librarians understand the power of storytelling more than most. Yet, ... it’s easy to forget the power of your own story” (p. 4). Sachs (2012) argues that Campbell’s (1968) Hero’s Journey provides a compelling outline that continues to have power, including as a marketing tool. Sachs recommends casting the customer as the “Hero” and your product as the “magical item” that will help them on their journey. Our research into stories told in and about libraries asks where the library might fit on the Hero’s Journey beyond Sachs’ recommendations and how libraries can leverage that knowledge.
Two exploratory studies aimed to collect stories told about and in libraries. The first study considered a library storytelling show including both prepared stories and open mic stories. The stories were recorded and transcribed. The second study examined Dungeons & Dragons games facilitated by public libraries. Researchers attended games to observe and interviewed librarians, Dungeon Masters, and players. Data included fieldnotes and interview transcripts.
Stories, fieldnotes, and transcripts were coded, using the Hero’s Journey as a framework. Initial findings suggest that the library can help users to be heroes and can provide magical objects such as library cards and books. Additionally, the library may be the world beyond the threshold where adventure awaits! The library may also be a place of trials. Will patrons meet mentors, ogres, or gods? These stories help us understand how patrons view and use the library and invite us to imagine our mythic potential as we tell the library’s story.
Two exploratory studies aimed to collect stories told about and in libraries. The first study considered a library storytelling show including both prepared stories and open mic stories. The stories were recorded and transcribed. The second study examined Dungeons & Dragons games facilitated by public libraries. Researchers attended games to observe and interviewed librarians, Dungeon Masters, and players. Data included fieldnotes and interview transcripts.
Stories, fieldnotes, and transcripts were coded, using the Hero’s Journey as a framework. Initial findings suggest that the library can help users to be heroes and can provide magical objects such as library cards and books. Additionally, the library may be the world beyond the threshold where adventure awaits! The library may also be a place of trials. Will patrons meet mentors, ogres, or gods? These stories help us understand how patrons view and use the library and invite us to imagine our mythic potential as we tell the library’s story.