Musick Library to Host Carnival

The staff at the Fairmont State University Ruth Ann Musick Library will host a carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, to introduce new students to the services at the library and to reacquaint others with all of the resources the facility has to offer.

Visitors to the library will have the opportunity to participate in nine games and a chance to win an iPod or an MP3 player in a grand prize drawing.

"Having a few games on every floor of the library creates an informal self-guided tour, which allows students to see what the library offers. It is also a way for us to meet new students," said Amy Hughes, Coordinator of the Library Science Program.

Those who haven't visited the main campus library recently will find many improvements in store. For example, the library now has 150 computers with Internet access as well as wireless capability on each of its three floors. Online users have access to the library catalogue system MARLO (MARion Libraries Online) and 150 academic data bases to link them to scholarly journal articles. The library also has an extensive popular movie collection, private group study rooms, three electronic classrooms, a Starbucks coffee shop, a student lounge that features a big screen television and an LCD television with Nintendo Wii. This fall, seven reference librarians will be available to help students.

Sharon Mazure, a library science faculty member, said the carnival will serve to help new students become familiar with the physical layout of the library.

"This is an opportunity for students to be introduced to the library and have some fun at the same time," Mazure said.

For library hours and more information about the Libraries of Fairmont State University, visit the library's web site through the Quick Links menu at www.fairmontstate.edu.