There is a new addition to the staff of the library, but this one can not help you check out a book, answer questions or even talk.
The librarians instituted this in an effort to promote a stress-free environment.
“Pinguini” is seven feet tall and lives in the front portion of the library.
While the penguin contributes little to the library, the librarians intended for it’s presence to help students relax during the day.
Similarly to the goals of the student services and the librarian staff, the SGA implements a “stress-free week” once every year, where activities range from participating in mindfulness to petting dogs to ease school related stress.
The staff members have initiated similar approaches with the addition of the snowman and the penguin.
Only having been in the library for a couple of months, the penguin has already received a warm reception from the students.
“The first two days were the most fun to watch people walk in and gasp,” librarian Krissy Ronan said.
The idea for a library-dwelling animal arose after a similar snowman occupied student services and later, the library, during the holiday season.
When the snowman returned home, across the school, the librarians wanted a replacement with a literary twist.
“We had the student services snowman in here for an hour one morning, and it was a lot of fun to see students be excited to see it, and we enjoyed having it, so we got something to use that we thought would do the same thing,” Ronan said.
The penguin has solicited a positive reaction from the student body.
“It’s gorgeous,” sophomore Madeline Ice said. “We were trying to get permission to crawl inside of it to hide during classes.”
Throughout the day, students use the penguin as a prop, either to take pictures with or to go up and hug him.
Although the penguin does not speak, sophomore Jospeh Kwartin said he feels an attachment to Pinguini and appreciate his presence in the library.
“In the last few weeks of the semester, school gets pretty stressful on top of other things, so it’s nice to have a presence like Pinguini around in these type of situations,” Kwartin said.
Throughout the day, students gravitate towards the penguin to pose for photographs
Although it is not clear how long Pinguini will remain in the front portion of the library, the penguin has even gotten a name tag taped on him.
Students, teachers and members of the administration admire the penguin for its appearance and ability to make everyone smile upon their arrival in the space.
“We got a penguin with glasses,” Ronan said. “Obviously, in the library, we need something fun and a little nerdy.”