Magnet wall, TRC promote summer reads
Sometimes a perfect complement to a relaxing afternoon, while vacationing at a beach or elsewhere, is a good book.
East Carolina University’s main campus library is promoting summer reading through a magnet recommendation wall while continuing to increase and refresh its popular reading collection. The Teaching Resources Center inside the library also remains a great place for ECU faculty and staff to check out summer reading for their children, including collections featuring recent award-winning titles.
The magnet recommendation wall is located on the first floor of the library in the hallway behind the front circulation desk, giving students along with staff, faculty and other visitors an opportunity to complete a brief form and post a suggested title on the wall. The form includes space to describe the book and answer the question, ‘Why do you recommend this title?’
Library employees Eryn Staib and Laura Bright initiated the program, seeing it succeed as patrons help each other identify summer reads.
Book displays in the Teaching Resources Center on the library’s second floor.
“This is a logical time to gather and share reading suggestions and to promote new books that were recently added to the popular reading collection,” said Bright, collection strategist and assessment librarian.
Trending authors, like Colleen Hoover and Mary Kubica, have been highlighted on the wall. There has been a surprise theme for Staib, Academic Library Services’ student engagement and outreach specialist.
“We’ve had a lot of different genres suggested, including young adult fiction, autobiographies, science fiction, historical fiction, and my favorite surprise, some comic book recommendations, as well,” Staib said.
Bright has used her role this year to focus on popular reading.
“Approximately half of the titles in the popular reading collection, which is located in the Ann B. Laliotes Reading Room at the entrance to the library, were added over the spring semester,” Bright said. “This means there are currently a lot of fresh reading options, and the collection, which is available year-round, continues to grow. Students and employees who would like to share recommendations for the collection can use the suggestion box in the popular reading area or submit titles and topics virtually.”
Go to go.ecu.edu/popreads to provide input and suggestions for popular reading. Learn more about the TRC here.
The first official day of summer was June 21. The library has assisted with ECU new student orientation sessions in June, resulting in exposure of the magnet wall to students and families. Also, some current students use the library similar to the busier fall and spring weeks.
“We wanted to give these students, community visitors and ECU staff an outlet by asking for their favorite book recommendations,” Staib said. “It was a great opportunity to help encourage our community to take a break from technology and pick up a book.”
Recommended books on display.