Bookedited by Sara Holder and Amber Lannon.
Summary: Academic libraries have always promoted student success through teaching and research support and through instruction in information literacy, a skill that is understood to be useful not just for academic success but also for life success. For college and university students, learning to live well and attend to their mental health are life skills they can and should develop during this time, and academic libraries are increasingly playing a role in this part of the student experience. Student Wellness and Academic Libraries can help those charged with leading these efforts gain valuable insigh. Post secondary institutions are high stress environments for many students: Undergraduates may be living on their own for the first time, coping with demanding academic requirements, and experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and new social relationships and identities. Advanced degree students tend to have a high level of job insecurity and are also more likely than other students to be juggling family obligations on top of their studies, research, and teaching. Mental health disorders have their peak onset during the university and college years, and severe anxiety is on the rise. Many university libraries across North America are expanding their service offerings to include student wellness initiatives or are making their space available to other campus entities to provide wellness support as mental health issues and awareness of mental health challenges on campus have increased. Student Wellness and Academic Libraries gathers multiple perspectives on wellness programming and discussions of current activities, with case studies, commentary, and research on student wellness initiatives in academic libraries. Some chapters explore one initiative in detail, and others look at a variety of activities and how they fit within a strategy; some focus on a particular aspect of wellness, and others on a particular at-risk group.Academic libraries have always promoted student success through teaching and research support and through instruction in information literacy, a skill that is understood to be useful not just for academic success but also for life success. For college and university students, learning to live well and attend to their mental health are life skills they can and should develop during this time, and academic libraries are increasingly playing a role in this part of the student experience. Student Wellness and Academic Libraries can help those charged with leading these efforts gain valuable insight into ideas and directions the library can take in pursuit of that goal -- Publisher's description.
Contents:
Preface / Sara Holder and Amber Lannon
Acknowledgments
Introduction / Sara Holder and Amber Lannon
Chapter 1. Then You Can Start to Make It Better: How Academic Libraries Are Promoting and Fostering Student Wellness / Lorna E. Rourke
Chapter 2. Peer Assisted Study Sessions: How Academic Libraries Can Influence Student Well-Being through Academic Programs and Intentional Partnerships / Christina Sylka, Cassie Gilpin, Kimberly Fama
Chapter 3. A Case for the Empathetic Librarian / Melissa Beuoy
Chapter 4. "I'll Go With You": Safety and Wellness Initiatives to Support Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Academic Library Users / Heather Cyre
Chapter 5. Cultivating Belonging: Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives at the Leonard Lief Library, Lehman College--CUNY / Joan Jocson-Singh, Alison Lehner-Quam, and Rebecca Arzola
Chapter 6. Welcoming Students with Children: Building a Family Study Space at the University of Toronto Libraries / Kyla Everall and Jesse Carliner
Chapter 7. Wellness Support for Student Library Employees: A Staff Development Tool Kit for Library Employees Who Supervise Students / Heather Burroughs and Judy Quist
Chapter 8. The Development of Multiuse Meditation Rooms / JJ Pionke
Chapter 9. Supporting Digital Wellness and Well-Being / Julia Feerrar
Chapter 10. Designing for Wellness: A Student/Librarian Collaboration / Barbara Rockenbach, Shyamolie Biyani, and Francie Mrkich
Chapter 11. Beyond Therapy Dogs: Rethinking Animal Policies to Protect and Promote Student Wellness for All Library Users / Jacqueline Frank
Chapter 12. Student Wellness through Physical Activity: Promotion in the Academic Library / Noah Lenstra
Chapter 13. Wellness Overdue? Check In at the Weldon Library Wellness Station: Partnering for Student Wellness / Nicole Maddock, Melanie-Anne Atkins, Monica Fazekas, and Jennifer Robinson
Chapter 14. Welcoming Wellness: Collaborating with Campus Wellness Programs to Promote Student Wellness Activities in the Library and across Campus / Theresa McDevitt, Li Teng, Susan Graham, Ann Sesti, and Sara Dillon.