Thousand Oaks Library wanted to spark curiosity and awareness among its patrons about the wealth of resources, programs, and services it offers. The team sought a fresh, interactive way to help people explore not just their library, but also the rich history of the surrounding community.
To meet that goal, Thousand Oaks Library turned to the Agents of Discovery platform and began creating both Play-on-Site and Play-from-Anywhere Missions that invite visitors to learn in fun and meaningful ways.
One standout example is the Conejo Valley Virtual Historical Tour, a Play-from-Anywhere Mission that allows players to explore local landmarks and uncover community stories. Inside the library, visitors can take part in an on-site scavenger hunt, scanning images and completing Challenges related to specific collections, locations, or services.
“We learned from what has been done before and gathered ideas from all over. The on-site scavenger hunt Mission was inspired by Madera County Library’s, and the historical tour Mission was created after consulting with staff and playing a Mission by the Conejo Recreation & Park District.”
Michael Whitehead, Librarian, Thousand Oaks Public Library
Librarian
Thousand Oaks Public Library
Community Engagement
The library features its Missions as part of its regular programming, especially during the annual Summer Reading Club, a two-month celebration of reading and libraries. Integrating Agents of Discovery into this event helps attract new participants while encouraging returning patrons to explore the library in new ways.
Promotion continues throughout the year with eye-catching flyers, signage, and website features that invite patrons to begin their own interactive learning adventures.
Looking Ahead
As Thousand Oaks Library plans future Missions, they are keeping an eye on upcoming community events and initiatives to make sure each new experience connects with what is happening locally.
“As we look ahead to potential ideas for the next Mission, we’ll keep in mind what events or initiatives are on the horizon, and how we can build the Mission to best support what we’re trying to achieve.”
Michael Whitehead
Librarian
Thousand Oaks Public Library