Page from a textbook that reads: quasi-experimental studies. In the center of the page is a square of salmon-colored paper with an intenstine on it. Below it is a purple bow made with a pipe cleaner. Some of the text on the page is whited-out. At the bottom page are a few silver illustrated flowers, and a piece of paper with sky and clouds.
On the left: the page of a textbook on which is overlaid pieces of patterned paper, a pair of eyes drawn in blue, and a green star. On the right: a yellow page with two strips from a textbook, with sections partly redacted.
On the left: on yellow paper are two ink illustrations of dogs, with cutouts of flowers next to them; on the right: page from a textbook overlaid with cutouts and illustrations. These include: a figure of a man standing, a photo of a young woman, a hand holding leaves, an astronaut holding flowers, and more.
Pages of a textbook with the titles: correlational studies, experimental studies. Parts of the text are redacted, parts highlighted. The following words are written on the right with purple markers: Suppose that, even well-designed and carefully conducted
Pages of a textbook (experimental studies) with stickers and cutouts laid over. The images include: cookies on a plate, floral cookie jars, two swatches of color - peach and cloudy purple, and large text that reads: CTRL+Z.
On the left: page from textbook (characteristics of measurement procedures) overlaid with image of a hat, a stickie that says 'mole', an illustration of an intestine that says 'hello my name is gut'; on the right: page from textbook that reads '4 - principles of measurement in research and evaluation'; below the text is the illustration of a silver centipede against brown paper with the text 'petritivore'
On the right: An illustration of a cat with a cigar, a monocle, and a tophat resting on a catbed against yellow paper; on the left: page from a statistics textbook with drawings and cutouts of birds, eggs, and stars.
A line drawing of a dragon on a yellow piece of paper. The dragon opens its mouth wide to eat an ice-cream sandwich sticker.

Laken Brooks and Collaborators

For generations, Appalachians have used (and continue to use) a variety of oral traditions, songwriting, and other forms of folk art to communicate. However, environmental and infrastructural factors have presented some obstacles regarding print literacy in rural mountain communities.

During the 2024 GCO conference, Laken Brooks presented a talk about how the Packhorse Librarians embraced adaptation to promote print literacy in Kentucky. The Packhorse Librarians were a group of women who delivered books, often on horseback, to rural communities that may not have access to libraries. When these librarians ran out of new books to distribute, local Appalachians scrapbooked and collaged new stories out of worn magazines and holiday cards. Almost a decade after the Packhorse Librarians hung up their saddles and stopped delivering books, Appalachians continue to use adaptation and co-authorship as literary tools. Storytelling is a communal endeavor.

At the end of this conference talk, participants were invited to create their own communal composition. Participants worked together to create blackout poems, draw illustrations, and organize the collaged pages together into a narrative.