How long does "Library Scavenger Hunt: Research Skills Challenge" take?

This quest typically takes 90-120 minutes to complete.

What's the difficulty level?

This is a Beginner level quest and is family-friendly.

What does this quest cost?

This quest can be done entirely with items you already have — no required purchases.

What supplies do I need?

You'll need: Library Card Holder with Note Pocket, Portable Book Light with Clip, Cotton Archive Gloves, LibraryThing App (Free).

Library Scavenger Hunt: Research Skills Challenge

About This Quest

Turn your local library into a research skills challenge with this scavenger hunt that teaches information literacy while rediscovering physical resources.

Libraries aren't just book warehouses—they're labyrinths of organized information waiting to test your research skills. This scavenger hunt sends you through the Dewey Decimal system, into special collections, past reference desks, and through digital archives. You'll decode call numbers like they're treasure maps, hunt down primary sources, discover what's actually in those locked glass cases, and learn why librarians still matter in the age of Google. The hunt works in any public library, though larger systems with multiple floors and special collections offer more complexity. You'll encounter microfiche machines that still work, card catalogs some libraries maintain for historical purposes, interlibrary loan systems that connect you to books across the country, and local history collections that never made it online. Each challenge builds actual research competencies—the kind that help you fact-check news, dig into topics deeply, and navigate information with confidence. This quest reveals how libraries organize human knowledge and why that organization matters. You'll finish with tangible skills: reading call numbers instantly, evaluating source credibility, using databases effectively, and knowing when to ask for help. Plus, you'll likely discover sections of your library you've walked past for years without noticing.

Why This Quest Matters

You'll leave with a mental map of how human knowledge is organized and the confidence to navigate any information landscape. This quest transforms you from someone who knows how to Google into someone who knows how to actually research—and you'll discover library resources worth hundreds of dollars that your card unlocks for free. Plus, you'll likely find that one strange, perfect book you never would have encountered through an algorithm.

What You'll Experience

How to decode Dewey Decimal call numbers and navigate library classification systems instantly
The difference between keyword searches and subject heading searches, and when each matters
What specialized databases and research tools your library card unlocks for free
How to evaluate source credibility and locate primary source documents
When librarians become essential (and why they still outperform search engines for certain questions)

Duration

90-120 minutes

Estimated Cost

Free

Location

Indoor

Season

Year-round

Family Friendly

All ages welcome

Step-by-Step Guide

Introduce Yourself and Start with 000s

Visit the reference desk and tell them you're doing a self-guided research challenge—librarians often get excited and may offer bonus challenges. Head to the 000s (Generalities) section and find a book about libraries themselves, preferably pre-1990 to see how much has changed. Read the first chapter standing there.

💡 Pro Tips:

• Ask the reference librarian what the strangest item in the collection is—save it for later
• Libraries published before 1990 will reference card catalogs as the primary search tool

Decode Call Numbers and Hunt Old Books

Pick any book and break down its call number using the library's posted guide: subject classification, author designation, publication year. Then hunt for the oldest book in the general collection by checking copyright pages across sections. Handle any 19th-century finds carefully and notice how the paper feels different from modern books.

💡 Pro Tips:

• The 900s (History) and 200s (Religion) often contain the oldest circulating books

Gather Three Non-Circulating Reference Types

Visit the reference section and locate three specific materials that never leave the library: an atlas, a specialized encyclopedia (not Britannica—something niche like jazz or gardening), and a statistical abstract or almanac. These reveal what information librarians consider essential enough to keep on-site permanently.

Access Local History and Use Physical Indexes

Find the local history or genealogy collection and locate one primary source document—a historical photograph, newspaper clipping, city directory, or archived letter. Then ask staff for bound volumes of old magazines or newspapers and use a physical periodical index to find an article from at least 30 years ago on any topic. Experience research without search engines.

💡 Pro Tips:

• Some special collections require staff retrieval—this is normal for preservation
• Notice how subject headings in old indexes differ from what you'd type into Google

Compare Catalog Systems and Explore Unexpected Sections

Search for the same topic in both the physical catalog (if available) and digital system, comparing results. Try subject heading searches versus keyword searches to see what emerges differently. Then visit the children's section and find a children's non-fiction book about a complex topic like quantum physics or philosophy—it'll likely be the clearest explanation you'll find.

💡 Pro Tips:

• Subject heading searches use controlled vocabulary and often surface more relevant results than keywords

Unlock Hidden Databases and Check Out Something New

Ask staff what specialized databases the library subscribes to—most offer expensive research tools, language platforms, or newspaper archives free with your card. Find one you didn't know existed. Complete your hunt by checking out a book you discovered during the quest that you wouldn't have found otherwise, then read the first 20 pages before leaving the building.