Wishing Olin Library a happy birthday!
In honor of Olin Library’s 40th birthday, the six-word short story contest has returned.
“Typically for our birthday, we just collaborate with our departments who call Olin home, but we’ve invited everybody this year, so it will be bigger for our milestone birthday,” said Office and Facilities Coordinator Alyssa Hanson. “I’m really excited to see what everybody is planning, and we’re dressing up, but I think it is a good way to build community.”
For the library’s 40th birthday, this year’s theme is Once Upon an Olin, with different departments and individuals donning fairytale themes and stories as part of a grand storybook. One of the activities central to the birthday celebration is the six-word short story contest.
“It has been a contest before, but we decided to bring it back as kind of a way to engage with the campus community,” said Digital Services Specialist Stephanie Nieves.
The contest allows students, faculty, and staff to express themselves creatively with a little less than a sentence. As a result of the competition, winners will be rewarded with a $50 gift card to the Rollins Bookstore, a $25 Amazon gift card, and Rollins swag respectively for first, second, and third place. The final day to submit was April 2, and winners will be announced on April 7, the day of the birthday festivities.
Last year’s winner, Amit Sewnauth (‘26), finds great merit in having participated in the contest.
“I chose to participate in last year’s competition because I thought it would be fun to try writing a six-word story,” said Sewnauth. “I learned that sometimes it’s good to try your hand at something outside of your comfort zone.”
Along with the contest, Once Upon an Olin will offer side quest activities like a petting zoo, a writing and magazine-making pop-up, and afternoon tea. Outside of the excitement, the birthday celebration for the library is seen as an opportunity for connection and bonding.
“It reduces any library anxiety or any trepidation of use of resources, and it builds a bridge between us and them,” said Library Dean Derek Malone. “It gives us an avenue for discourse and our furthered usage here, so I think it is a good gateway.”
The Once Upon an Olin birthday celebration will be held on April 7 from 3-5 p.m. Additional information regarding the event or the short story contest can be found on MyRollins.
Comments are closed.