: For Students, Faculty, and Staff 
Are you ready to fall in love?
Do you like a bit of a mystery? Want to read a fun book? Visit participating UM libraries this Valentine’s Day (February 12 until they last) and find the display of books. Read the descriptions and admire the art and select a book wrapped up just for you. Check the book out with your U Card, take it home, unwrap and fall in love. We check out hundreds of books to Gophers who are looking for something fun and new to read.
Each of the books includes a hint to help guide your connection, but the true identity of your match won’t be revealed until you open it. Share your blind date on Instagram and tag @umnlib for a chance to win a U of M Libraries t-shirt.
More fun in February
Get crafty: Valentines with the Libraries
Have a special someone? Want to make something for a friend? Join us on Tuesday, February 13 and make a mini treat bag or valentine on the 2nd floor of Walter Library anytime from 3-4:30 p.m. Write a last minute valentine for anyone! We will have carding making supplies, stickers, markers, and more. Enjoy a treat from M Food Co while supplies last!
Sponsored by the U of M Libraries Student Advisory Board.
Walter Library 100 Pop-Up Exhibit – Love your Library edition
As we celebrate Valentine’s day — let give some love to Walter Library. Explore a mini-exhibit about the history and construction of the first “new” library on campus. Meet in the unique and historic Upson Room (room 102) on Tuesday, February 13 from 3-4:30 to learn about campus history and view blueprints, then and now images and more. Go on an owl scavenger hunt and pick up stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library.
Explore history with Matters of the Heart: A Archives Pop-Up
Bring a friend or a special someone to Andersen Library (west bank) on Tuesday, February 13 from 11am-12:30pm in room 120 for “Matters of the Heart: A Pop-Up Prelude to Valentine’s Day.” Talk with curators and learn about unique items from the archival collections. The pop-up exhibit will feature items related to hearts both physical and metaphorical. We will be showing books, maps, manuscripts, art, and objects from a variety of collections including the Children’s Literature Research Collection, Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies, the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine and more. Fall in love with history!
Love Data Week: Make a Data friendship bracelet
The theme for international Love Data Week is “My kind of data” – because data is personal.Let’s wear our data on our sleeve wrist with ORCID id, DOI, or other favorite data visualizations via friendship bracelets like Taylor and Travis. Join us to make and talk data; documentation, ORCID id, and data sharing. Join us: Wednesday, February 14 from 10:00am – 11:30am at Wilson Library Research Collaboration Studio or feel free to from 1:30-3 in Walter Library basement level – Toaster. Be in community with folks who dig data – no data experience necessary. Supplies provided. All are welcome. Bring a friend.
Get crafty and Blind date with a Book Pop-up at WAM Study Night
Join WAM (Weisman Arts Museum) for a special edition Valentine’s Day Study Night on Wednesday, February 14th from 5-8pm (100 FREE MISFIT coffees are available while supplies last). Create a LINOCUT VALENTINE PRINT for your special someone, a bookmark for your latest read, or a little something for yourself! Join us at our UMN Libraries pop-up craft table and check out a fun read with our Blind Date with a Book program to find your new favorite swoon-worthy read!
Go on a Taylor Swift Era’s Tour Winter Reading Challenge
We have created the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour inspired challenge just for you. Read one or more of the suggestions like: read a “love story,” read a book published in 1989, read a book with a red cover, read a myth, legend, “folklore” or fairytale, read a book with an “anti-hero” main character and view more. Share your winter reads on instagram and tag us (@umnlib) or email the title to libfunreads@umn.edu for a chance to win a Libraries t-shirt.
Try Book Matchmaking
Not sure what to read next? Try our “Book Matchmaking” services. You can simply fill out a short online matchmaking form and we will send you customized book suggestions. This service has made over 2,600 successful connections since the service started in February 2015.
Download the Libby app
If a blind date isn’t your thing, remember Wilson, Walter, and Magrath libraries also have a fun reading collections for you to find the book of your dreams! The Libby app is a great way to connect with ebooks and listen to audiobooks (learn more about Libby). If there is a book you have your heart set on and we don’t own it, you can request it and we will get it.
*new* magazines in Libby app
We have 5000+ magazines you can read use Overdrive or the Libby app. Read magazines on news, politics, cooking, crafts, fitness and more including titles like The New Yorker, Harpers, Vanity Fair, etc.
Please contact Kate Peterson (katep@umn.edu) with any questions.
