Many runners turned up to participate in the 20th annual Love Your Libraries 5K on Saturday morning in Circle Park. Sponsored by UT's Graduate Student Senate, the Love Your Libraries 5K has been around for 21 years. The event is held each year to raise money libraries around campus to purchase new books, equipment and electronics.

The weather was less than ideal, but students and community members came out to show their support anyway. At the end of the race, awards such as fastest team, best team and fastest UT runner were presented to the participants.  

The community needs books. Clearly UT has a large library, and it takes a lot to keep it running and make it useful to the community.-Maggie Mussachio, UT freshman

"Supporting the libraries, this is one of the biggest projects we do every year in the Graduate Student Senate," said Martin Walker, a member of the Graduate Student Senate volunteering at the race.

Proceeds from the race went to help the library to purchase things such as books, library equipment and electronics.

"If we could get [the race] bigger, I would love to have that happen," said Walker. "The library last year had to include fees to support certain projects [...] Even giving them a couple thousand dollars, that's the goal."

The University of Tennessee currently houses six different libraries across campus. The largest, John C. Hodges Library, is six floors. Hodges is complete with silent and group study areas, computer and print access in The Commons and The Studio, a convenient store and a Starbucks.

Smaller, subject-specific libraries like the Webster C. Pendergrass Agriculture and Medical Library, George F. Devine Music Library, Preston Medical Library, Joel A. Katz Law Library and the James D. Hoskins Library are also available for use around campus. Online, UT's libraries offer an extensive list of other services like research databases, online reservations and technology support.

Maggie Mussachio, a freshman at UT, came out to cheer on participants in the race. Mussachio plans on running in the race next year because she agrees that it is worth the cause.

"The community needs books," Mussachio said. "Clearly UT has a large library, and it takes a lot to keep it running and make it useful to the community."

UT alumnus Eve Andriola, who ran the race this year, said, "The race was a great idea to raise money because there are a lot of athletic people out there who love to run, and this is a real running community."

The Knoxville Track Club managed the finish line. An awards ceremony followed the race, awarding the top three finishers as well as other prizes like 'best team' and 'fastest team.'

Click to find out more about the Graduate Student Senate and the Love Your Libraries 5K.