Roane State Oak Ridge Library Learning Center to host ‘Long Night Against Procrastination’

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

If you delay doing this, you will miss out.

It’s the first-ever “Long Night Against Procrastination” from 5 until 11 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, in the atrium of the Coffey-McNally Building on Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.er

“We’re excited about it, and we’re a little nervous about getting it all together,” said Becca Decker, Oak Ridge campus librarian.

The event, patterned after an international movement that started in 2010 in Germany, is being organized by the library and the Learning Center in Oak Ridge.

It’s intended to help students with their studies during the week before Thanksgiving “so they can enjoy their holiday break,” Decker said.

“We’re very excited about bringing this event to the Oak Ridge campus to provide an opportunity to better support the students,” she said. Normally, the library and Learning Center close much earlier.

The location and date were picked because the Oak Ridge campus has a higher student population on Thursday evenings, with some 300 to 400 students there then, Decker said.

The event will be heavily staffed to help students with their studies; from thesis assistance to citation support, from research to writing help, Decker said.

The first 100 students will receive free T-shirts, provided by Roane State Student Engagement, and students can also take a break from the books during the event.

University of Tennessee H.A.B.I.T. (Human Animal Bond In Tennessee) dogs will be there to provide stress relief, while brief yoga sessions will be available between 7 and 10 p.m. at the top of the atrium stairwell.

There will also be door prizes, and refreshments—from snacks to coffee—will be offered while supplies last.

Students can use library services, and an assortment of study areas will be available.

Decker said if the initial event is successful, the “Long Night Against Procrastination” could be held each semester, possibly with other Roane State campuses participating.

Robin Leib, the Learning Center specialist in Oak Ridge, teamed up with Decker to plan the event. Library Assistant III Christi L. Moss reached out to local businesses, and donations include pizzas from Billy’s Time Out Deli; a financial contribution and posters from Barnes & Noble College Bookstore, coffee courtesy of Starbucks; as well as several other sponsors.

This press release and photo were submitted by Owen Driskill.