Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
An activity often reserved for children, coloring books for adults rose from hipster trend to global phenomenon beginning in 2013. Adults flocked to the activity for a variety of reasons, including stress relief, socialization, a way to unplug from technology or even as a way to gain social status by appearing trendy. Participants reported enjoying the tactile, interactive nature of the books as a respite from constant screen time. Coloring books became big business for craft suppliers and bookstores by 2015. Coloring books shot to the top of the Best Sellers list on Amazon and were prominently displayed in book and craft stores. Titles with colorful mandalas, abstract designs, flora and fauna, fantasy characters, and intricate patterns took over prominent endcap and best-seller displays. Librarians responded enthusiastically to the adult coloring trend by offering programming that attracts a wide age range of patrons. Public libraries across the United States started offering monthly coloring programs and some even hosted coloring clubs that meet regularly. In early summer 2015, a local newspaper reported on adults in the Omaha-metro area joining in on the coloring fun. While a student coloring club formed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall, no such organization existed the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Capitalizing on the growing adult coloring trend and local interest, Criss Library held several events entitled “Color Me Calm” during the 2015-2016 academic year, both independently and during an campus-wide event known as “De-Stress Fest.” A brief history of the adult coloring trend, the organization, and assessment of the events are shared as well as campus partnerships that were formed and recommendations for future events.
Recommended Citation
Blackburn, Heidi and Chamley, Claire E., "Color Me Calm: Adult Coloring and the University Library" (2016). Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations. 78.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/crisslibfacproc/78
Included in
Educational Methods Commons, Higher Education Commons, Library and Information Science Commons
Comments
Published in Open Access, Open Borders: Networking with Colleagues across State Line, Vol. 6, No. 1.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.