For newcomers to Utah State University looking to break the ice with campus life, the Merrill-Cazier Library is throwing its doors open after hours. USU Libraries invites first-year Connections students to mingle and explore during a special "Library After Hours" event. Set for August 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., this gathering aims to introduce newbies to their academic sanctuary in a less conventional light, as reported by USU Today.
Attendees are expected to not just quietly stroll through shelves, but to actively engage in a suite of activities chosen to both entertain and inform. Envision yourself balancing atop a mechanical bull or grabbing a slice of pizza before diving into a board game. Karaoke and coloring corners round out the evening's offerings. In addition, raffle giveaways are planned to sporadically gift lucky students with prizes, encouraging engagement and participation throughout the night.
These specially curated events are exclusive to first-year Connections students, a significant detail that underscores USU Libraries' commitment to easing the transitional phase for incoming scholars. By experiencing the library outside regular operating hours, it's hoped that students will familiarize themselves with the layout, services, and resources in a setting that's more casual and perhaps more memorable.
The overarching goal of "Library After Hours" is to foster a sense of belonging among new students. It's an effort to make the Merrill-Cazier Library feel less like an institution and more like a home base. The library staff are ready to welcome questions, share insights, and possibly even introduce students, who might one day be regular fixtures between the stacks, to their favorite hidden corners. The event's purpose, fundamentally, is to support students' academic journeys by anchoring their campus experience to a place of knowledge and community.
