Deck the Halls, Adorn the Walls!
Edmonton Public Library, Alberta
Innovation Synopsis
EPL’s central library closed on Dec. 31, 2016 after 50 years for a significant revitalization that will take three years to complete. EPL wanted to give our customers a chance to bid farewell to the old library, share their library memories and visit the site before the revitalization began.
Challenge/Opportunity
Because all the walls and flooring were going to be torn out, we could offer customers the rare chance to vandalize the library! We created the event tag line "Deck the Halls, Adorn the Walls" and invited our customers and staff to vandalize while sharing their fondest memories on the library walls. The Graffiti Open House was an innovative, memorable and engaging way to gather customers together for a celebration to close the main library.
Key Elements of Innovation
The novelty of vandalizing the library spoke to our customers, they came out in hoards to share their memories through paint pens, sharpies and markers. Every inch of wall and flooring was covered with colourful drawings, quotes and memories. It became a stunning keepsake, captured through photos and videos, of what the Milner Library means to Edmontonians. These images and testimonials can now be used in our annual reports, marketing materials and fundraising materials.
Achieved Outcomes
Over 4,000 customers came out on a wintery day in December to share their memories of the Milner Library – far surpassing our estimations. Our customers’ artwork, memories and enthusiasm were remarkable and created a mosaic of library memories from the past 50 years. All the major media outlets covered this story which had the dual effect of informing customers of the closure and temporary location, while showcasing the impact of the library.
