Escape the library
During my time at Stanford Libraries, I had the opportunity to embark on some truly creative, fulfilling projects. One that stands out was crafting an escape room at the engineering library. Picture this: the pandemic had subsided, and we were beginning a new academic year. Pre-pandemic, our evenings were bustling with activity; post-pandemic, our evenings were bustling with… tumbleweeds.
Enter - the escape room, or the escape cubicle rather. The escape cubicle offered a blend of entertainment and engagement, designed to draw students back into our space and re-establish it as a hub for creativity and community. It was the perfect opportunity for students to connect with one another and with library staff and to feel a sense of ownership in the space.
Scenario
“You receive a scary final notice from the library about an overdue book.
You know you put it somewhere in your cubicle, but can't remember where. Find it to avoid a massive fine!”
Objective
Central to the Escape Room challenge was unlocking a lockbox secured with a four-digit code. Hidden inside? The elusive overdue book.
Scattered around the cubicle were four words, each with a number in place of a letter (2DAY, C0OL, RE4D, and DAT3). Some words were hidden in plain sight, while others required careful exploration and deduction to uncover.
Artifacts
In addition to crafting the game setup and puzzle pathways, I also designed the room and the artifacts.
The setting I created was that of an aerospace engineering graduate student's cubicle. This thematic backdrop added depth and context to the challenges players faced within the Escape Room.
You may notice some typos, misquotes, and other oddities. Good eye! You’re picking up on some of the clues I sprinkled throughout the game, and chances are you would’ve escaped.
Success
The Escape Room was a resounding success. Over the course of a month, we welcomed over 50 groups who relished the challenge. The feedback was overwhelming positive: many participants were astounded at having such a fun experience in a library setting. It was immensely rewarding to see my effort resonate with participants. Want to hear my favorite comment?
“That was awesome! Did you guys hire a professional team to come set this up?”
