Hokay. I think my local academic library needs even more study breaks. We already have a room where there is a sandbox of legos and some puzzles to do, but I'm in the mood for something different.

I also miss treasure hunts. My mom used to make chains of clues, with wacky little texts in rhyme, telling you were to go next. At the end of the line would be a candy bar for each of us kids, or a small toy, or something else that was nifty, but honestly, the fun was careening around our farm from clue to clue.

I tried making up wacky little clue texts in rhyme, and decided that I stink at it and it annoys me. What to do instead? USE CALL NUMBERS.

Here we go: we need treasure, a place for the treasure, and places for clues. After scouring the catalog and talking with friends for ideas, had enough material for 2 trails. This got a little confusing. Oz tried to help.




Here's the printed forms, the schematic of the trails, and the box of treasure, ready to go with me to the library.



First I placed the final clue, which says to look behind these books, and then put the treasure behind it.



Then I worked backwards from the treasure, placing clues; here are a few of them.



The library uses a lot of colored paper flags for various things, so mine don't look too unusual in there. Hopefully they won't be disturbed for a while.


Two of the clues were down in the deepest basement section of the building, which is sort of hard to find. It has high impact shelving, and I've taken some shaky video of me cranking the shelves open to place a clue. I was cranking AND shooting, so please take a Dramamine first if you're sensitive to shakycam. Somehow I failed to realize that this camera can take video with sound until I pulled the file off the camera, so I am very glad I was not swearing or muttering weirdly as I shot this.




The hardest clue to place was actually the very last one I placed; usually all the oversize books are at the back of a level of shelves. Except for one area, where the oversize childrens' books are separate but in a set of shelves next to the regular size ones. This always messes me up even though I've been there before. But I found the clue location!



Finally, I guess I should show you where the last clue is:



Eureka, baby.

Now the start clues have to be left where people can find them. I am going to be merciful and put bookmarks with the call number locations near them, just as a nudge in the right direction. This library is CONFUSING; the odd numbered floors don't exist in the center of the building, one stairwell only goes from levels 4 through 7, one stairwell only goes from 2 through 7, and one stairwell only goes from 2 down to 1 on the north side, which is where the creepy high density shelves are. Oh and did I mention there's a level 2 1/2? Crazy.

Here's what a starting clue looks like:


We'll see if they get used before someone cleans them away in the name of recycling....



Mischief managed!

Remind me later to report on whether the trail seems to have been used. We'll see how much treasure is left in a week or so....