Got Ballot?: Encouraging Civic Engagement of Academic Library Users Through a Participatory Display

Abstract

The University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia College Campus Library has a strong
history of creating engaging and relevant displays, often on current or ongoing political
topics. All library staff members are encouraged to brainstorm and create displays, with
some including participatory elements and others including only curated materials. Past
themes have included support for sexual assault survivors, world languages, queer literature,
and fat liberation. Displays can include selections of library materials, images, calls
for community participation, or any combination of the above on staff-chosen themes. In
the fall of 2024, a small group of staff created a participatory voting and elections display
intended to promote civic engagement among our library users. This article will detail
the process of creating this display, the experience of its presence during the contentious
election season, and some questions raised during the process.