The Library is Undead: Information Seeking During the Zombie Apocalypse

Academic libraries should be aware of trends in popular culture that appeal to students and design programs that engage them in participatory experiences. At the University of Florida, more than 1,000 undergraduates participate in the campus-wide alternate reality game, Humans vs. Zombies. Through a partnership with the game designers, librarians successfully created a library mission that allowed zombie-hunting students to apply 21st century learning skills such as communication; collaboration; critical thinking; problem solving; creativity; innovation; and information, media, and technology literacy. This article describes the development, marketing, and assessment of the game.