Depth of field: Connecting library exhibition space to curriculum and programming

Abstract

This article focuses on an exhibition curated by library employees at the Pennsylvania State University. Their exhibition, Depth of Field, grew out of a common reading program collaboration. In creating the exhibition, the authors of this article aimed to create a dialogue around the way in which viewers interact with visual and textual imagery, specifically as it relates to war photography. Photojournalism is interdisciplinary and provided the authors with multiple avenues in which to approach themes, thus making it the perfect vehicle to cross boundaries and find common space for visitors to the exhibition. The intent of this article is to provide an example of a cross-campus collaboration that resulted in an engaging exhibition, how to take complex ideas and theories and make them digestible for a first-year student audience, and strategies for academic libraries who are considering a similar project at their institution.