UNK’s literary magazine, The Carillon, is hosting a campus-wide book drive, which runs until Nov. 4. The drive encourages students and staff to donate books for an upcoming interactive event.
The goal of the drive is not only to collect books but also to bring more attention to the magazine itself.
“We found out that not a lot of people outside of the English Department know about The Carillon,” said Emma Higgins, editor-in-chief of The Carillon.
Sigma Tau Delta has had a book drive in the spring for years, which inspired The Carillon staff. This is the second year that The Carillon staff has hosted a book drive. Last year, they collected around 100 books. This year, they are hoping to have an even better turnout. The staff is hoping to make this an annual event.
The books can be dropped off at the Calvin T. Ryan Library’s circulation desk or at the student worker’s desk in Thomas Hall. All genres of books are welcome, ranging from novels and cookbooks to even older textbooks that could make for a unique surprise read.
The books that are collected will be used for an event called “Blind Date with a Book,” which is set to take place in early November.
“It’s kind of a good way to get rid of and clean out your closet and bookshelves and then it gets turned into a fun thing later down the line,” Higgins said.
During this event, all the books collected from the book drive will be wrapped up in brown paper and have a keyword, like a genre or a hint. There will also be information about joining the staff or becoming a writer included with the book to help encourage people to get involved with The Carillon. People can then buy a mystery book for around $2 and enjoy their blind date with a book.
Any books that are left over will be added to a “lending library” in Thomas Hall, where students are able to borrow or exchange books year-round at no cost.
Along with collecting books, the drive also helps promote The Carillon’s annual Bellringer Prize, which is a $100 reward for the best poem submission. Entries are due by November 15, and selected pieces could be published.
Through these events, The Carillon staff hopes to spark creativity, encourage reading and strengthen engagement on campus.
