Library cards and banned books: Events at the Carl B. 

MOORHEAD – In the hubbub of homecoming, there were two events on campus that were left off of the official event list. On Wednesday Sept. 25, the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library hosted a library card sign-up event and, later in the week, a banned book sit-in. 

The library card sign-up day was held cooperatively with the Moorhead Public Library and the Fargo Public Library.  According to Leah McCracken Anderson, the library’s access services manager, a total of 25 library cards were registered through the event–15 for Moorhead and 10 for Fargo. 

The Carl B. allows patrons to access materials from other libraries, including the Moorhead and Fargo Public Libraries through interlibrary loan (ILL) borrowing. 

“If you need any book or any article and we don’t carry it, we can get it from any library pretty much around the country and even around the world,” said Gabrielle Fritz, a junior heritage and museum studies major at Concordia who has been a student worker at the Carl. B. for a year. 

“Public libraries have different types of materials than academic libraries.  Both Moorhead and Fargo have access to Libby, Hoopla… and Overdrive. These services offer e-books, audio books and movies,” said McCracken Anderson.   

A Moorhead or Fargo library card gives patrons instant access to these materials instead of having to wait for an ILL. Regardless of permanent residence, Cobbers can attain a Moorhead and Fargo Public Library card. 

“A student only needs their Cobber ID to get a Moorhead card and once a Moorhead card is in hand, they can then get a Fargo library card,” says McCracken Anderson. 

On Thursday, Sept. 26, the library housed a banned book read-in in collaboration with Book Banning: What’s at Stake?, the first-year seminar taught by Amy Watkin.   

“Students [were] encouraged to bring a book that either they just enjoy, or a book that is typically banned in schools, and just sit and read and discuss the books on the main floor of the library,” Fritz said. 

The Carl B. will also host Finals Perks in December to help students de-stress before and during finals. At this event, according to McCracken Anderson, the library will have crafts, hula hoops and other stress-reducing activities available for students, as well as kittens and possibly a therapy dog.   

Jillian Jaros, a sophomore vocal music education major, visited the kittens during finals week last semester. 

“I love them, they bring a sense of comfort, safety and peace during finals week,” Jaros said about the kittens. 

Later in the year, the Carl B. will host their Blind Date with a Book event for Valentine’s Day, Fritz said.  

The library offers more than books and journal articles to students. The Carl B. also hosts a large CD and DVD collection, as well as a smaller collection of LP records.   

“We have CD players and DVD players in the library that students can use to review the materials or they can check them out,” McCracken Anderson said. 

Students can also check out Happy Lights and CobBikes, according to McCracken Anderson.  Happy Lights mimic sunlight to improve users’ moods during the winter when sunlight is less available. The CobBikes are a fleet of bikes that are available to students.    

The library also houses a green screen room on the fourth floor that students can rent out, Fritz said.   

“​​It has a tripod, it has a computer in there, it has a green screen. I think it has a microphone as well,” Fritz said. 

In order to utilize the green screen room, students just need to ask for the key at the front desk. 

McCracken Anderson also explained that students have access to an online New York Times subscription, paid for by SGA. Students are able to create an account on the Carl B.’s website, on the Quick Links tab here.