student holding coffee and cookieStudent Lisa Salfi said free coffee and a cookie from the Leddy Library staff was just the pick-me-up she needed Wednesday.

Free goodies show librarians’ appreciation for student patrons

This semester’s final exams have been a long slog for Yasmine Captan.

The third-year criminology major had stayed up all night preparing for her last exam Wednesday, when she came upon a free offer of coffee and cookies from the staff of the Leddy Library.

“This is a good idea,” said Captan, as she poured herself a cup of coffee from a large urn at the library’s entrance. “This jolt is just what I need as I’m trying to stay awake.”

Librarian Pat Belanger said the reaction was typical of the response from students.

“They have been very appreciative and very thankful,” she said as she set out another package of cookies. “Mostly, they say they need the caffeine.”

Library staff distributed free cookies, coffee and tea on Tuesday and Wednesday as a goodwill gesture to students preparing for final examinations. Sales of decommissioned books helped to pay for the supplies.

Lisa Salfi, a master’s student in English who entered the library to finish her final assignments, said the surprise was exactly what she needed.

“I needed a little pick-me-up today,” she said. “Look at people’s faces: lots of smiles all around.”