Between reading for class, studying for tests and writing papers, students hardly have any time to pick up a book to read for fun.

If you are craving a good read from the best sellers list, however, you might be interested to learn Roesch Library recently acquired a leisure reading collection.

In the past, the academic library did not provide a popular literature section. Scott West, periodicals assistant who is heading up the project of acquiring the books with Fred Jenkins, said he found many students and faculty interested and asking about a literature section at the library.

Funded partly by the UD Library Advancement Association and the Library Endowment, Roesch Library is leasing book collections through McNaughton Books.

Authors of the current collection in the library include Ray Bradbury, William F. Buckley, Caleb Carr, Mary Higgins Clark, S.E. Hinton, Arianna Huffington, Stephen King and many more.

The titles include a vast variety of genres, including mysteries, thrillers, romance novels, fantasy, biographies, classics and best sellers. The collection does not contain many science fiction books because the library already has a substantial sci-fi collection.

Over the next five months, the book collection will reach to a maximum of 400 books and include up to date best sellers. Afterward, the collection of titles will change as low-circulated books will be exchanged for new ones and high-circulated books will remain as part of Roesch's collection.

The 320 books the library has acquired so far will be on the shelf by the time students come back from spring break. The collection will be shelved in the reference room on the first floor of Roesch and will be available for checkout by students, faculty and staff for three weeks per book with one optional renewal.

'I think the most exciting thing is to see if people will respond to it and see if it will lead them to look at other aspects of the library resources,' West said.

West said he hopes the collection will fulfill students' and faculty's desire for recreational reading and help expand their minds.

'There is an increase of academic success the more students read,' West said, which he believes is another advantage to acquiring the book collection.

The books added to the collection are selected by the collaboration of student, faculty and staff opinions. West said the group's wide range of ages forms a diverse collection of books suitable for all ages and interests.

Maybe you can turn off the TV during breakfast and pick up a book instead, steal 15 minutes before going to bed or prop a book in front of you while on the stair-stepper at the RecPlex. We can all find a little more time to enjoy leisure reading again.