Pattee Library is helping students fall in love during the month of February. As a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the library is offering an opportunity for students to go on a blind date –– with a book.
The program is rightfully called “Blind Date with a Book.”
Selected from the Leisure Reading Collection , books are wrapped in brown parchment paper — concealing their identities. The only hint given to the readers is a phrase or drawing on the outside of the parchment paper that reveals a small detail as to what the book may be.
“I think it’s a great program,” Megan Gilpin , coordinator of outreach, said. “It’s nice for us to have something a little different and fun for Valentine’s Day.”
The display is located in the Franklin Atrium on the first floor of the Pattee Library. The books are placed on end caps of two “Leisure Reading” displays, and are easy to spot with their parchment paper disguise.
The selected books cover a range of topics and there is an equal representation from both fiction and nonfiction genres.
Anne Behler , Pattee’s information literacy librarian, came across the idea through social media. Behler said she had seen several other libraries take on the initiative and thought it would be a fun idea to bring it to Penn State.
“For something that was very impromptu, it has been very well-received,” Behler said.
The project kicked off last week and already a number of people have decided to go on a blind date with a book. Students are encouraged to give feedback through the library’s Facebook or Twitter as to whether the blind date went well.
“I hope [the readers] get a taste of something enjoyable from [a book] that they may not have picked up on their own,” Behler said.
So far the library has not received any feedback yet. Suzanne Sadler , information resources and services support specialist, said those participating were very excited and thought the project was a fantastic idea, while checking out their blind dates at the Commons Desk.
“A lot of people think that Pattee/Paterno is just a place to do research and study,” Gilpin said. “It’s nice to have a program that highlights the [Leisure Reading Collection] and bring it to people’s attention.”
“Blind Date with a Book” will continue to run throughout the month of February.
