It’s Tolkien Week, and what better time to journey back to Middle-earth?

Whether you’re a lifelong Tolkien fan or simply curious about the world behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the UAA/APU Consortium Library has plenty of Tolkien materials to explore.

Why September 22?

Tolkien Week centers around September 22, also known as Hobbit Day, the shared birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.

And we have much more than just the novels. Our collection includes academic works exploring Tolkien’s mythology, languages, influences, and other critical opinions/perspectives. But we have some more interesting titles to peruse such as J.R.R. Tolkien : a guide for the perplexed or perhaps A Tolkien compass : including J.R.R. Tolkien’s Guide to the names in The lord of the rings

One of my personal favorites is Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Tolkien wasn’t only a writer. He was also an artist, and this collection of his illustrations gives us a glimpse into how he envisioned the world he was creating.

It’s pretty neat to see Middle-earth through Tolkien’s own eyes, rather than through the many adaptations that came later.

Take a Look

If you’re a Tolkien fan, take a few minutes to browse the collection the next time you’re in the library. Head up to PR6039.O32 and you might find a familiar favorite, discover something completely new, or stumble across a book that answers a question you didn’t even know you had.

And unlike our hobbit-y friends, please keep your shoes on in the library.