Coastal Carolina University's Kimbel Library is celebrating Friends of the Library Week with a poetry reading by educator and author Jim R. Rogers on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 4:30 p.m. in Lackey Chapel. Admission is free and open to the public.

Rogers will be reading from his collection of poetry "Looking Around," which celebrates the unique messages in ordinary objects and events. Rogers captures the joy and sorrow in the everyday by simply "looking around."

Rogers earned his Master of Education degree in early childhood education in 1994 from CCU. Since then, he has been involved in many community services projects, such as conducting parenting workshops for the Horry County Department of Social Services, S.C. Child Care Association, Family Support Services, churches, child care centers, and public and private schools. He worked in the Center for Education and Community at CCU from 1993 to 2006 and has held many positions in other fields, from human relations, advertising to business. He is also became a national award-winning director and producer of television commercials.

Now retired, he continues to write and support his own business, still learning inc., which aims to reconnect parents, teachers, leaders and citizens and allow them to reflect on themselves and the world. He is also the author of a collection of free-verse poetry, "Starts and Stops Along the Way: Sharing Some Stuff from the Road Most Travel," and a parenting book, "The Incredible Importance of Effective Parenting."

Friends of the Library Week is Monday, Oct. 19, until Friday, Oct. 23. There will be a display and brochures in the library for anyone who is interested in joining the Kimbel Library friend group. Friends of the library support the educational mission of the University through the development of the Kimbel Library. They partner with the library on fundraising activities and outreach programs to the university and local community. Friends receive advance notice of library events and exhibits, invitations to special friends-only events, Kimbel Library borrowing privileges and recognition in the library's annual report. To join, visit the library during this week or contact Kimberely Gomez, project coordinator for philanthropy, at kgomez1@coastal.edu or 843-349-5038.

Lackey Chapel is located at 105 University Drive, Conway. For more information, contact Barbara Burd, dean of library services, at 843-349-2401 or bburd@coastal.edu.