Blind Dating at ICC

By Rachel Klein

The Studio at Illinois Central College is not only a place to find help when writing a paper, it offers fun ways to choose the next book to read!  If you have ever considered going on a blind date, then this program is for you!

The program is called Blind Date with a Book, and what it entails is a table filled with books that are wrapped up.  They’re like mini Christmas presents that have an important quotes written on them that are taken out of each book.  All you have to do is choose a quote that stands out to you and makes you want to read the book.  

The Blind Date with a Book program is great if you cannot choose which book to read next.  The reason the staff at the Studio created this program was to keep the writers reading.

Donna Lucas, one of the masterminds behind this program and a student worker at the Studio says, “It’s really just to get people interested in doing something different.”  

Lucas explains the idea of the Blind Date with a Book, “Sometimes for me, I have so many books to choose from and I know what they all are.  It’s like I don’t really know what to read right now.  So then this idea of this way to take the pressure off of picking what to read next is helpful.”

Qualifications for the date-worthy books are pretty lenient.  There are many genres, many older and many newer books.  There are some well known books like one from the Harry Potter series and some from lesser known ones.  

To take part in the Blind Date with a Book fun, students just have to stop by the Studio, (Room 238A on the East Peoria Campus Academic Building or the North Campus location in Arbor Hall Room 012D), and ask to see the books.  

There is no cost, and students do not have to return the book.  They are simply asked to come back when they are done and tell about their experience with the book and the way they chose it.

If you have any books you would like to pass onto fellow students at ICC through this program, the Studio would love to have them!  

Studio Hours for the East Peoria Campus are Mon-Thu: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Fri: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.  

Hours for the North Campus are Mon, Wed: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and Tue, Thu: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.