As dead week quickly approaches, Sherrod Library has everything that ETSU students need to relax, recharge and prepare to ace their final exams.
The activities will begin Monday, April 24 and will be ongoing until Friday, April 28. Students can expect to see the return of some of their favorite activities, like free pizza and visits from therapy dogs, as well as brand new activities and old throwbacks.
Jonathan Wilson, the outreach and distance librarian, shares that this semester Sherrod Library is adding rock painting to their schedule of dead week events.
“I’ve actually attended some rock painting sessions, [and] it was very therapeutic,” Wilson said. “We just thought if we brought this to the students that it may actually be therapeutic for them, as well.”
Rock painting is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 24. Other Monday events will be free popcorn at 2 p.m. and the Ascension Acapella Group performance at 3 p.m.
Wilson added this semester’s dead week will see the return of free massages, something that the library hasn’t been able to do since before the COVID-19 pandemic; Jones Chiropractic will be doing the massages.
The massages are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25. Other Tuesday events will be the Poetry Open Mic from 12 -1 p.m., Origami Hour from 2 -3 p.m. and Free Random Acts of Pizza at 5 p.m.
Wilson shares that their most popular dead week event has consistently been the therapy dogs. This semester, the therapy dogs will be on campus Wednesday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sigma Kappa is also scheduled on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be offering free snacks and study tips.
Another rock painting session will be held on Thursday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by free popcorn at 2 p.m.
All throughout the week the library will also have crosswords and other puzzles, coloring sheets, message boards, brain food snacks, buttons and origami. Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Library Ambassadors will be in room 102 to provide students with research help.
Wilson said that the library starts preparing for dead week activities months in advance, but it is all worth it for the benefit of the ETSU community.
Lydia Gwyn is a student engagement and instruction librarian for Sherrod Library. She is happy to provide these services for students, as she is aware how stressful this part of the semester is.
“The library is more than just a place where you can come and study… we’re here to help you, especially when you get stressed out,” Gwyn said. “We’re also here to help you take that mental health break and push through to the end.”
Both Wilson and Gwyn hope the dead week activities will help to increase awareness of all the services the library has to offer year-round. They also want students to know that their library is here to support them in finishing another semester of hard work.
“We want students to know their library loves them,” Gwyn said.
For more information on Sherrod Library resources and dead week activities, visit their website: libraries.etsu.edu/home.
