While books are still a vital part of what the OSU Institute of Technology Library offers its patrons, it now provides so many more resources and services. National Library Week offers an opportunity for the campus community to see just how much the OSUIT Library has to offer.

National Library Week is April 8 through 14, and the OSUIT Library will offer something fun to do every day including board games, puzzles, coloring sheets and refreshments in addition to games and contests for prizes and the 13th 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 national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April,” said OSUIT Library Director Jenny Duncan. “It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, and to promote library use and support.”

Some of this year’s new activities include a Magnetic Poetry Contest and Tech Petting Zoo.

“The Magnetic Poetry Contest kicks off Monday, April 9. We will have several stations set up throughout the library where students can create their own original poetry. Then, if they wish, we will post their entry on our Facebook page for voting,” said Kristin Pickett, emerging technologies and instruction librarian.

The winner of the Magnetic Poetry Contest will be announced Thursday, April 12, at 3 p.m. and will receive a $25 gift certificate to the OSUIT Bookstore.

On Tuesday, April 10, patrons can visit the library for the Tech Petting Zoo from 8 a.m. to noon.

“The Tech Petting Zoo will be a chance for students to come and get hands on with some of our newest Tech To-Go items without having to check them out. We have a 3D structure scanner, automatic blood pressure cuff, racing robots, and infrared monocular and more,” Pickett said. “The first 50 students will get a 3D printed keepsake to take with them.

The week’s biggest event is the annual Poets Live! Poetry Reading on Thursday, April 12, starting at 10 a.m. in the ONG Lounge in the Student Union.

Ten poets, which can be students, staff or instructors, are selected to read original or previously published material. Those participating receive a $15 OSUIT Bookstore gift certificate.

“You typically don’t see this type of activity at a technical university. Poetry readings are normally found in more of your liberal arts-type colleges and universities, so this gives our technical students an opportunity to see, hear and even participate in something that might be somewhat out of the ordinary for them,” Duncan said.

It’s one of the highlights of Library Week for Pickett.

“We love our poetry reading. We have done this every year for the past 13 years and there are always so many talented readers,” she said. “Each year is different, and we never know what to expect.”

Other events during the week include Candy Guess on Wednesday, April 11, where visitors can guess the number of Hersey Kisses and Hugs candies in a jar and the person with the closest guess wins the jar of candy; as well as a visit from two stress-relieving therapy dogs from Pete’s Pet Posse on Friday, April 13, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

To sign up for the Poets Live! Poetry Reading, go to the OSUIT Library webpage and click on the Poets Live! link.