If you’re a sports fan you may be familiar with the month of March as the time for the NCAA basketball tournament—also known as March Madness. Here at CSN Libraries, we’re having a March Madness bracket of our own, only the contenders are something we’ve noticed many of our students are fans of: Disney and Pixar movies. Who would win in a battle between the classic The Little Mermaid and the new CGI favorite Encanto? Do today’s students still watch hand-drawn animation or will computer-generated movies rank higher overall? The answers to these questions and more will be seen each week as the votes come in!
How can you participate? Simply follow the link here or scan the QR code that’s located at the CSN Henderson Campus Library entrance where the bracket is being shown live. The idea originated at Henderson, but the voting is available to students and staff of all campuses. Help your favorite movies rise to the top! And check back on the CSN Libraries'’ social media (TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram) for updates each week if you can’t make it to the Henderson Campus Library in person.
We eased into the bracket during Spring Break and in the first two weeks of competition we’ve already had 66 participants. The ultimate winner will be announced mid-April and we can’t wait to see who you picked!
Wondering why an academic library might create a competition for Disney movies? What does that have to do with research for class assignments? Studies show that social events and college library programming can create a sense of belonging with students that then can help motivate them academically as well (Eshbach 4). And on the opposite end, students who struggle with a sense of belonging are usually not as academically engaged (“Shaping”), so having fun, social programs that get students interested and participating can ultimately lead to academic success too! Now you can tell your family that your Disney+ movie marathon is actually to help improve your grades. Or at least get you just a little closer to your academic goals.
If you want to learn more about movie animation, CSN Libraries also has books on a variety of art and movie topics. Search our catalog for the word “animation” or ask a librarian for help!
Works Cited
Eshbach, Barbara E. “Supporting and Engaging Students Through Academic Library Programming.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 46, no. 3, 2020, pp. 1-11. ScienceDirect, doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102129.
“Shaping a Positive Learning Environment.” Teaching & Learning Resource Center, The Ohio State University, 2023, teaching.resources.osu.edu/teaching-topics/shaping-positive-learning. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.