Publication Date
4-1-2025
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
University Libraries
Keywords
Treasure hunts, Scavenger hunts, Information literacy, ACRL framework, Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori
Abstract
Treasure hunts have long been employed in academic library instruction as an interactive method for fostering information literacy skills through active learning, exploration, and adventure. This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of the theory and practice of library treasure hunts. It begins by distinguishing treasure hunts from scavenger hunts and emphasizing the importance of accurate terminology. The pedagogical principles underlying their effectiveness are then examined, followed by a review of the relevant literature. The essay also addresses the challenges associated with the labor-intensive process of designing and implementing these activities. A separate analysis course alignment, learning outcomes, and how the tasks in treasure hunts align with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education, and offers strategies for enhancing or adapting these activities to support the Framework. Two case studies are presented: one focusing on a team-based, in-person treasure hunt and the other one an asynchronous, fully virtual activity for individual use. Suitable customized to a particular library environment, these may be used to build and reinforce information literacy through active learning.
Copyright Date
4-1-2025
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rights Holder
Ellwood Colahan
Provenance
Received from Elsevier
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
17 pgs
File Size
1.55 MB
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the Author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. This article was originally published as
Colahan, E. (2025). Designing Effective Library Treasure Hunts: Theory, Practice, and Framework Alignment. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 51 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2025.103048
Publication Title
The Journal of Academic Librarianship
Volume
51
Issue
3
First Page
103048
ISSN
0099-1333
Recommended Citation
Colahan, Ellwood, "Designing Effective Library Treasure Hunts: Theory, Practice, and Framework Alignment" (2025). University Libraries: Faculty Scholarship. 138.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/libraries_facpub/138
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2025.103048
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