Northern Michigan University’s Edgar L. Harden Learning Resources Center will celebrate Homecoming with a family reading program and a building open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The event is free and open to the public. It includes a punch card activity to enter a drawing for an iPad, tours of Lydia Olson Library and the public radio and television stations, and an opportunity for community members to sign up for a library borrower card and waive the usual $25 annual fee.

Olson Library also will introduce its new community borrower privileges for high school students 14-17. A parent must be present to sign the agreement when the card is issued. 

The detailed schedule follows:

9-11 a.m.: Bagels and Books family event featuring a continental breakfast. Carrie Pearson, author of “A Cool Summer Tail” and “A Warm Winter Tail,” will read from her picture books and NMU School of Education students will lead creative activities in Olson Library’s children’s literature section.

10 a.m. to noon: Superiorland Pet Partners therapy dogs

Noon-1 p.m.: Chocolay Raptor Center educational program featuring rescued birds of prey

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

            - Building-wide open house, including tours of public radio and television stations, the All-Campus Tutoring Center and the Writing Center.

            -“Tell Us Your Library Story,” in which visitors can share their first or favorite experience in a library for a video recording that may appear on the library’s Facebook page or in a feature story about the library.

            -Meet the NMU government documents librarian and learn about federal and state government information and maps at Olson Library, the only government documents repository in the central Upper Peninsula.

            -Visit the Center for Teaching and Learning to eat popcorn and watch “Faculty Focus” videos that highlight teaching best practices.

            -Chat with the dean of academic information services about future plans for Olson Library.

            -Learn about opportunities for extended learning and NMU’s new Educational Access Initiative.

            -Sample Latin taste treats at Fieras dining operation in the LRC lower level.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Sample salads and treats at Sundre, also located in the lower level.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Tour the Central U.P. and NMU Archives and learn how to access the papers and records of individuals, families, local government, business and civic organizations that have had an impact on U.P. development. See the papers of John Voelker, Bart Supak, Dominic Jacobetti and others.

            -11 a.m. to noon presentation: “NMU is Burning: Student Life and Protest in the 1960s,” with University Archivist Marcus Robyns.

            -2-3 p.m. presentation: “How to Get Started with Genealogy” with Annika Peterson, Archives senior student assistant.

            Renowned architect Alden Dow of Midland, the son of Dow Chemical’s founder, designed the Harden Learning Resources Center. He had apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright before opening his own design firm. Dow was named the architect laureate of Michigan shortly before his death in 1983.