By Kate Peterson

As staff, faculty, and students were selecting the season’s best vegetables and fruit, they were also picking some fresh new books at the University Libraries’ “Pop-up Library” July 8 at the University Farmers Market.

Similar to the idea of a bookmobile — the Libraries have been working on ways to bring books and more to students, faculty, and staff around campus not just waiting for folks to come into one of the 12 locations.

At the Pop-up Library event, Libraries staff brought a wide selection of title from many libraries — including cookbooks, health and wellness books, and fun summer reads. Folks browsed our selection and could even check-out books right on the spot. We also challenged attendees with trivia questions.

“Now more than ever it is increasingly important to challenge perceptions about what a library is or isn’t,” said Phil Dudas, Access Services Manager in Wilson Library. “Events like this help us reach potential new users in creative and engaging ways, and not only showcase our fun and unique collections, but also our wonderful staff.”

Here are a few of the books that were picked to include:

• Fitness for Geeks
• Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works
• Where’d you go Bernadette
• Minnesota Lunch: from pasties to banh mi
• Gardener’s Table:  a guide to natural vegetable growing & cooking
• This is how you lose her

Libraries staff member Kaia Sievert, who originally suggested the Farmers Market as a pop up library location said,”By creating a mini library in an unexpected place on campus, we hope the Libraries will bring a bit of fun and surprise into people’s day. Whether they chat with us about their favorite book, spin our wheel for a prize, or check out a book, we hope to grow the way we’re serving the University community.”

The Libraries have hosted pop-up Libraries in Wiley Hall on West Bank in October for Halloween then at the RecWell Center before Spring Break. Along with pop-up libraries, staff debuted a book matchmaking service started around Valentine’s day in which they offer book recommendations based on books people had enjoyed in the past. This summer we are also hosting Summer Reading BINGO through September.

“I’ve gone from a kid who checked out the max number of books allowed per library visit to a high school senior who wouldn’t let herself start new books until college apps were done to a grad student who barely ever reads for fun anymore—thanks for helping me to change this!” said a library patron who used our book matchmaking service.

Upcoming Pop-up Library Events

Stop by for a cool glass of lemonade, check out a summer read, or play a lawn game at the Lemonade Stand Pop-Up Library on Wednesday, July 22, from 2-4pm outside Wilson Library.

Please join us at these upcoming Farmers Markets and check out a book!

• Wednesday, August 5 from 11 to 2 outside McNamara Alumni Center
• Wednesday, September 9 from 11 to 2 outside McNamara Alumni Center