Patrons of the Dimond Library who find themselves there at closing time will have a friendly reminder when it’s time to start packing up for the night. Make that a familiar friendly reminder.

Starting this week, students and others will hear closing announcements recorded by football coach Sean McDonnell, hockey coach Dick Umile and chief faculty marshal Nancy Kinner, whose message includes a rendition of her commencement serenade, “Happy Trails.” The trio joins President Mark Huddleston who was enlisted last year to record a closing alert.

Assistant dean Tracey Lauder came up with the idea for the “celebrity” announcements while watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie where he famously announces “Get ouuuut.”

“For some reason I just thought it would be really fun to hear Ahhnold say ‘Can I have your attention please… the library is now closing… you need to get ouuuuut, but can come baaaaack tomorrow,” Lauder says. “Then I decided to look closer to home for interesting voices.”

The first alert is heard at 1:45 a.m., announcing the library will be closing in 15 minutes, and commending students for their hard work. Kinner sings “Happy trails to you, it’s time to head on home. Happy trails to you, to the circulation desk you should roam.”  At 2 a.m., the “now closed” recording airs.

“I just wanted to make studying so late a wee bit more fun for our hard-working students,” Lauder says.

Other “celebrities” are being approached with the hopes of adding to the recording cast.

For information on library hours go to http://www.library.unh.edu/about/hours/hours.php. 

Listen to the messages.

Nancy Kinner closing message

Dick Umile closing message

Sean McDonnell closing message

Sean McDonnell closing message with wildcat