Students catch ’em all at library carnival

By: Kristin Helf, Staff Writer

Freshmen students and their families took shelter from the heat on Thursday and Sunday at Cook Library’s annual Library Welcome Carnival, hosted by campus librarians and student intern A-LISTers.

Mary Rose Pedron, a senior A-LISTer (which stands for Albert S. Cook Library Leadership Institute for Students) sat outside under the “big top,” a white tent outside the library where students could get a free button and the chance to spin a prize wheel. They could also pose for pictures with Al, Cook Library’s blue-furred, bow-tied mascot.

“My role, along with my A-LISTer Emma, is we plan all of the activities and set it up,” Pedron said. “We were just like, ‘What would be fun for students?’ Because part of the A-LIST program is to get a student perspective on how to benefit the library.”

Library personnel encouraged students to take part in an obstacle course outside and go on a Pokemon Go-themed scavenger hunt throughout the library in order to win gift cards.

Pokemon team-colored buttons were awarded to anyone who would write out an answer to questions about favorite books and study playlist songs, and family members were encouraged to take part in the fun.

“There was a freshman with her little brother, he couldn’t have been more than six years old,” Pedron said. “He was running around doing the scavenger hunt. He had more morale than most of the freshmen did.”

Carissa Tomlinson, Cook Library’s assistant librarian for Access and Outreach Services, has been involved in organizing the library’s outreach program for five years.

“We want to have a fun way for students to get to know the library and know that we’re here,” Tomlinson said. “We don’t expect to be teaching them too much at this point, but just getting them in the door, knowing that librarians are friendly and here to help.”

Both Tomlinson and Pedron said they most enjoyed meeting the new students and welcoming them to Cook Library.

“It was really great because the students were moved in and they were just trying to find something to do,” Pedron said. “We just want them to get to know the library [and] feel welcomed.”