Michelle Mitchell stands beside the library's book matchmaking display. (Photo by Meara Mosny)
Book Matchmaking Returns Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
Looking for some mystery or an unexpected connection this Valentine’s Day? Try stopping by the display, which is returning to Bird Library for its second year.
The display, which will be up through Feb. 16 on the first floor of Bird Library, offers a handpicked selection of books wrapped in brown paper to cover the title, author and description. Instead, library staff inscribed their own witty or attention-grabbing blurbs on the wrapping to entice library patrons into checking out a book, or two, or four.
So-called “blind date with a book” events have grown in popularity at libraries and bookstores since the 2010s, according to Michelle Mitchell, the reference and instruction librarian coordinating the University’s display.
She says the goal for the library with this week’s event was to highlight fiction and leisure titles in the collection, since so often the University community is focused on their extensive academic offerings.
To create the matchmaking display, library staff were asked to submit fiction titles from any genre, along with a playful or shortened version of the book’s description.
“This type of event encourages fun and creative curation for staff members who are choosing the books to be a part of the display and includes the elements of surprise, mystery and thrill of the unknown for the reader,” Mitchell says. “It’s an exciting journey for both the staff, who choose the titles, and the readers who select which one to take a chance on. It is exciting to see our community embrace their love of reading with this display.”
Last year, the first time the put on the event, 62 “mystery date” books were checked out.
“It’s wonderful to know that someone may choose a book that they may not normally choose since elements of influence are covered up, such as the cover art, the full description and author names,” Mitchell says.
Life, she notes, is busy and full of moments of looking ahead to what’s next. The matchmaking display can provide some unexpected respite.
“Allow yourself to pause and spend time with a book to be immersed in new worlds, different perspectives and thought-provoking, emotional content,” Mitchell says.
