RADFORD – Daniel Brookman’s book collection pertaining to Kappa Delta Rho and Radford University span the last 100 years and many predate 1925 when “printing was more of a craft than an industry,” he said.

“The quality of craftsmanship that went into these books and the fact that they have survived, passing from one owner to another, gives them an intimate charm that is unobtainable in modern books,” said Brookman, the winner of the inaugural Winesett Book Collecting Contest held by Radford University’s McConnell Library.

Winners of contest were announced last week during a ceremony at the library. “The contest is aimed to encourage and celebrate reading and collecting books, and it provides students with an opportunity to discuss and showcase their personal book collections,” said Gene Hyde, RU’s archivist and special collections librarian.

(IN THE PHOTO: From left are Winesett Book Collecting Contest finalists Matt Prater, Daniel Brookman, Amanda Lilly and Brenta Blevins.)

Brookman received $200 for winning the Winesett Book Collecting Contest, and is eligible to enter the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest, which has a grand prize of $2,500.

“I’m really excited about entering the national competition and representing Radford University at the national level,” Brookman said.

Amanda Lilly of Roanoke took second place in the competition, and Brenta Blevins of Rural Retreat and Matt Prater of Saltville received honorable mention.

The Winesett Book Collecting Contest was open to all undergraduate and graduate RU students during the fall 2009 semester. To enter, contestants were required to submit a list of at least 20 books, write a 500 to 1,000-word essay describing their collection and list an additional five to 10 books that they would like to add to their collection.

Submissions were judged based on creativity and thoughtfulness of the collection, essay strength and the meaning of the collection to the owner. The judging panel was made up of library faculty and staff and teaching faculty.