So I have three paper documents: bookmarks, a flyer, and a pamphlet (or brochure, if you prefer). The bookmark is simple, containing just enough info to remind people that we exist and to lead them to the wiki or the website. The bookmarks are the only thing that will cost me any money, since I have free access to a color
printer, so the others are free. But the bookmarks need to be on card stock so they will last. The copy center at the college can do these, and they are pretty cheap. For the $50 we had to spend, I can get over 1700 bookmarks (which is way more than we would need), so money has not been an issue here. The bookmarks will be placed in the library at the front desk, in all the academic bays, in the computer labs, and at other various strategic locations. Hopefully students and faculty will stick these in books, leave them lying around, take them home, and circulate them everywhere.The flyer is meant to be more informative than the bookmark, serving as a reminder and a source of info. Yet it is still relatively simple, since most students won't stop to write anything down or look carefully at the flyer. However, there is a long-standing tradition of posting flyers at the end of all the stairwells in the academic buildings, and students do stop to read these. So I wanted it to at least mention briefly our purpose. Faculty will see these as well, so the idea is to spark their interest and get them thinking, maybe even asking questions about their own assumptions about the ACWC.
The brochure (pamphlet) is meant to be much more informative and detailed. These would not just be placed about, but would be in the provost's office, the registrar's, admissions, etc. They are meant to inform any interested party about the ACWC and our purpose, how we approach the tutoring session, and what other services we offer. I decided I liked the gas station metaphor and put it on the back, but I'd love your input on this before I print them. These were kept general so that they will useful for years to come, as staff changes.
Thus the beauty of the wiki I made. I don't have access to the WC website that is attached to the college, and to get this changed is rather a pain. Besides, we only have the one little space and very little room for creativity. So I made a wiki. Please visit--there you can see everything I've done (on the "readings, etc" page, the "etc" part is the bookmark, the brochure, and the flyer for y'all to see) . The URL is acwritingcenter.wikispaces.com The homepage is meant to be a thorough explanation of what we do, including the basic info like how to sign up and when we're open. Again, I included the gas station metaphor, but could chuck it if you don't think it works. The second link (on the left in the purple box) is a schedule for the tutors. They work on a specific weekly schedule. The schedule posted is pasted in there from last year, so it is irrelevant at this time, but this will eventually be hyperlinked to the tutor's pages so interested people can see who these tutors are. Which brings me to the next link: staff. I just have a brief blurb about myself there because I linked to my own website. But each tutor has a page, and during our workshops each of them will come up with a statement about themselves as a tutor and will write a blurb about themselves on their page. This can help clients choose a tutor if they want to. Then next link (readings, etc) is for the workshops and for you to check out. I will probably take a lot of this down later. The last link is a schedule for people to sign up. This is a new idea, and I'm kind of excited about it. I've been trying to think of a way to have people sign themselves up without all the emailing and calling or having to actually go to the center to see when there are free times. This solves the problem! Any of us can update this from anywhere, as can clients. I'm hoping it works...
The only part of my project I have not completed is a new sign for the ACWC. Right now we have some purple letters cut out of construction paper and taped to the wall. It's very sad. I am going to ask the art department if they would make me a sign that repeats some of my advertising elements and can be a permanent fixture to hang. I also used to be a wood crafter and could do it myself if I have time this summer.
With all of these elements--the bookmarks, the flyers, the pamphlets, and the wiki--I am hoping to peak the curiosity of the AC population who is not familiar with the Writing Center and to get people looking and thinking about what we do. At the beginning of the year, I plan on an aggressive classroom visitation schedule and am going to ask if I can speak to the freshmen at orientation (where there will be faculty too!). I hope that the language of these documents conveys a writing center that is meant for all writers and does more than "correct papers"!
