Think you know what to expect from your library? Think again.

Libraries are … books, right? Maybe some computers, photocopiers, and printers? Study space? Maybe some nice folks to help you out once in a while? Right? Sssh – be quiet!  No food. Get your work done. 

Your library at University of Guelph is way more than this. For one, you can eat and drink (though don’t go as far as these guys …).

And we do have lots of space for focused study. But we’re also a place to encounter new ideas and freely share your own – even if they seem strange, offensive, or downright laughable at first.

We’ve hosted art exhibits, drum jams, public presentations on banned books, and discussions about whether Twitter is killing the English language (Is it? What do you think?).  

We’ve dropped a flash mob and written downright weird group stories about a man and his horse.

And we got a local chef to prepare and serve up snacks based on recipes from our massive historical collection of over 10,000 cookbooks in our Archival and Special Collections department. Om nom nom, as Cookie Monster would say. Om nom nom indeed.

Ever heard of “The Human Library”? Borrowing people for half an hour? Really? We were the first university to do it in Canada.

The Yes Men are internationally known media pranksters. We invited them to come speak because it made us think about information and truth-telling. And because they’re kinda funny.

The Library is also just a great place to sit down and debate whatever it is that matters to you, whether this be Haitian politics, a remark by your biology professor, or if Google is indeed making us stoopid (or not).

University may be about exams, experiments, papers, and studying, but it’s also about the ideas, inspiration, and grey areas that keep things interesting. Your library is the academic townsquare at the heart of campus where your ideas meet those of others. Grab a coffee and join the conversation. 

See you there,

Dave Hudson, Assistant Librarian