Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University has started a new program called Kent Crates to introduce students to a variety of materials at the beginning of each month.

Students who subscribe to the program can pick up one of these crates that were specifically designed to their preferences at the start of each month.

The crates are themed, with past themes being "Stranger Things", "May The Force Be With You" and "Forbidden Pleasures". The current crate's theme is "Spring Fever".

Instructional Materials Center Specialist Abigail Wheetley got the idea to do Kent Crates after seeing the rising popularity and variety of "Loot Crates".

"I thought that was the perfect thing for a library program," Wheetley said. "We can put together a crate that would have a theme and we'd put in some fun stuff that maybe you would never know that we had. It's a way to create awareness about our materials, and also to share stuff with people they normally wouldn't find."

The crates are checked out for a 7-day period, but individuals can always check the individual materials out for an extended time. Wheetley hopes by providing a variety of things each month, subscribers can find at least one thing that fits their interest, regardless of the theme.

"I try to make it a mix that anybody who checks one out can find something they're gonna like, that's my goal," Wheetley said. "I try to do one big book, a novel or biography, something big that's gonna take some time, and lighter stuff. So I have a children's book or graphic novel, I try to include at least one piece of media so a videogame or movie, an audiobook, something like that. I try to have four or five items, never less than four, and things they can enjoy and preview during their week."

The program began last fall, and in October saw a large jump in subscribers. As of now, there are approximately 20 people subscribed to Kent Crates, but the library only has 13 physical crates to have picked up. To offset this, the crates are sent out in waves, so not everyone will have the crates at the same time.

Recently, to help accommodate the limitations of the physical crates, Wheetley has begun a virtual crate program. The virtual crates are free, just like the physical crates, but include links to both current and past virtual crate materials. Virtual crates are another avenue for the library to show the resources and entertainment it can provide.

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