Library Scavenger Hunt: Research Skills Challenge

Visit your library during regular hours. Introduce yourself to the reference desk and mention you're doing a self-guided research challenge—most librarians get excited about this and may offer bonus challenges.

Start with the 000s (Generalities) section. Find a book about libraries themselves. Check the copyright date—anything before 1990 will show you how much has changed. Read the first chapter standing there.

Decode the call number system. Pick any book and break down its call number: subject classification, author designation, publication year. Use the library's guide (usually posted on shelves or available at the desk) to understand what each part means.

Hunt for the oldest book in the general collection. Check copyright pages in various sections. Many libraries have books from the 1800s still in circulation. Handle it carefully and note how the paper feels different from modern books.

Find three different types of reference materials: an atlas, a specialized encyclopedia (not Britannica—something niche like an encyclopedia of jazz or gardening), and a statistical abstract or almanac. These rarely circulate, so they'll be in the reference section.

Locate the local history or genealogy collection. Find one primary source document—a historical photograph, newspaper clipping, city directory, or archived letter. Most libraries keep these in special areas and some require you to ask staff for access.

Use a physical periodical index. Ask staff where they keep bound volumes of old magazines or newspapers. Find an article from at least 30 years ago on any topic that interests you. Notice the research process without search engines.

Challenge the catalog system. Search for the same topic in both the physical catalog (if available) and digital system. Compare results. Try a subject heading search versus keyword search and see what different results emerge.

Visit the children's section even if you're an adult. Find a children's book about a complex topic (quantum physics, philosophy, architecture). Children's non-fiction is often the clearest explanation of difficult concepts.

Discover a database or digital resource your library provides that you didn't know existed. Ask staff what specialized databases they subscribe to—many libraries offer access to expensive research tools, language learning platforms, or newspaper archives free with a library card.

Find something weird. Every library has oddities: unusual binding styles, books in unexpected languages, strange subject classifications, or items that don't fit normal categories. Ask staff what the strangest item in the collection is.

Complete your quest by checking out one book you discovered during the hunt that you wouldn't have found otherwise. Read the first 20 pages before you leave the building.