If you need a place to relax, express your creativity and just have a little fun before finals, check out the OSU Institute of Technology Library next week.
National Library Week is April 10 through 16 and the OSUIT Library will offer patrons something fun to do every day including board games, puzzles, crafts, adult coloring sheets and refreshments in addition to visits from Pete’s Pet Posse and the 12th annual Poets Live Poetry Reading.
The primary goals of Library Week are to celebrate the role of the library, to highlight some of OSUIT’s library services, and to provide students with some fun activities during pre-finals week.
“It’s a great way to bring people in and this year we want to show off all of our new comfortable furniture for studying and hanging out,” said reference and instruction librarian and archivist Beth Kieffer. “Library week gives people a chance to slow down with a fun activity and take a break during this very busy time when everyone is stressed out.”
Some of the activities this year include an electronic scavenger hunt on the library’s website and an amnesty day when patrons can have their library fines waived when they donate a canned food item. Visitors can also share a book or movie that impacted their lives or create their own poem on the library’s Poetry Wall.
The Poets Live Poetry Reading, now a 12-year tradition during OSUIT’s Library Week, gives students, faculty and staff the opportunity to express a side of themselves that other’s may not always get to see on campus.
The Poets Live Poetry Reading is at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday April 13 in the library. Ten poets are selected to read original or previously published material. Those participating will also receive a $15 gift certificate to the OSUIT Bookstore.
“April is National Poetry Month and with National Library Week always being the third week in April, the two have always gone hand-in-hand. It’s good to provide this type of programming that’s normally held on a more traditional liberal arts college campus,” said Jenny Duncan, library director. “We’ll also need spectators, so I encourage all OSUIT faculty, staff and students to come and listen to what these wonderful poets have to offer.”
Those looking to relieve a little stress and get a dose of cuteness at the same time can come visit Pete’s Pet Posse on Monday April 11 and Tuesday April 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the library.
This is the third year therapy dogs will highlight Library Week at OSUIT.
Kieffer said not only are the dogs adorable and sweet but petting an animal has been proven to lower blood pressure, anxiety, and stress.
“So many people love petting and playing with the dogs every year, it really brings everyone together. We also notice patrons striking up easy conversations with each other, people they might have never talked to before, just because they have a love of dogs in common,” Kieffer said. “A lot of our students can’t have a dog because they are living in dorms or apartments or they are far away from their own dog. Having this chance is a great comfort for a lot of them. And it's a really fun time.”
National Library Week at the OSUIT Library
Monday April 11: Eliminate pre-finals stress with therapy dogs in the library from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Brought to you by the OSUIT Library and Pete’s Pet Posse.
Tuesday April 12: Eliminate pre-finals stress with therapy dogs in the library from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Brought to you by the OSUIT Library and Pete’s Pet Posse.
Wednesday April 15: 12th Annual Poets Live Poetry Reading at 2:30 p.m., in the OSUIT Library. The 10 poets selected to read will receive a $15 OSUIT Bookstore gift certificate.
Thursday April 16: Library Fine Amnesty Day. Come to the circulation desk and have your outstanding library fines waived in exchange for a canned food donation.
Friday April 17: Think you know the library webpage? Try your hand at our Electronic Scavenger Hunt. The student with the highest score wins a $25 OSUIT Bookstore gift certificate
Daily activities begin at 8 a.m.
Board games, adult coloring sheets, crafts and puzzles are available all week and refreshments are served at 1 p.m.
Add the name of a book or a movie that has transformed your life to our wall and be placed in a drawing for a $25 OSUIT Bookstore gift certificate.
Come and build a poem on our Poetry Wall in celebration of National Poetry Month.