When a trusted workshop series starts to lose momentum, what can libraries do to rebuild engagement without losing sight of learning outcomes? At Syracuse University Libraries, attendance in our Graduate Research Roundtable series declined sharply, nearly 50% between 2023-2025, prompting us to pilot a gamified engagement model. This session shares the design and early outcomes of a "Passport Program," where students earn stamps for attending sessions that translate into raffle entries and milestone recognition, alongside small assessment raffles to increase post-session feedback. We discuss implementation logistics, challenges, and what student responses reveal about motivation, especially for students navigating competing demands on their time. Participants will leave with strategies for revitalizing recurring instruction and outreach, increasing visibility, and collecting stronger assessment data to guide continuous improvement.
Participants will: 1. Identify strategies for incorporating gamification to support engagement in library workshops and programs. 2. Design assessment practices that encourage participation and provide useful feedback. 3. Explore ways to adapt a gamified engagement model to their own institutional and student contexts.
