{"id":990,"date":"2024-04-19T15:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T14:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/?p=990"},"modified":"2024-04-19T15:27:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T14:27:01","slug":"whats-going-on-in-the-library-wellbeing-area-connector-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/2024\/04\/19\/whats-going-on-in-the-library-wellbeing-area-connector-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s going on in the Library Wellbeing Area? \u2013 Connector Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exciting changes are happening!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Library Wellbeing Area is currently under redevelopment with the help of four Student Connectors, Katie, Elena, Mariola and Chloe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A seating area, display of Wellbeing and Leisure Reading books, and Listening area at The Wellbeing Area in Sussex Library.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Established two years ago, the Wellbeing Area has been a great addition to the library and additionally has underpinned the universities commitment to the holistic health and wellbeing of its student body.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wellbeing Area comprises two main collections, Leisure Reading and Wellbeing Reading, with the bonus of over 100 audiobooks available free for students to access online from anywhere via the Libby app. Student Connectors have recently begun working in collaboration with library management and staff to improve the space and ensure it is accessible for all students, including those with additional learning support needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, the Student Connectors have added over 90 new neurodiversity, disability, and mental health-inclusive titles to the Wellbeing Reading Collection, a much-needed and beneficial addition to the area’s growing collection. Further work is underway to expand the Leisure Reading Collection, with opportunities for students to get involved and suggest their favourite books to be included in the planned collection.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April, Connectors organized a Window Painting Project in collaboration with the Art Society. The project aimed to engage students in a calming activity for an evening, improve the visibility of the space, and display students’ artwork. We hope that this will become a regular addition to the Wellbeing Area.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Student artists draws a painting on one of the glass windows of The Wellbeing Area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A finished painting of colourful plants and flowers on the glass window of The Wellbeing Area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One plan for the Student Connector Project is redesigning the current area and exciting proposals are currently being submitted for the Wellbeing Area space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, the connectors are implementing more positive improvements to the space, such as discussing with the buildings team the need for and importance of lower lighting for neurodivergent students and reorganising the shelving within the space to ensure easier access for wheelchair users.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these changes, connectors have been working hard to increase the visibility of the area to students both in person and online by creating reels for the library\u2019s Instagram. More events are also in the works to increase engagement, such as disability awareness sessions for staff and students and the MindBody Study Group, which will aim to create an inclusive and quiet environment for students with mental and physical conditions to read, relax and study. In the meantime, however you can look out for the Mobile Library service popping up around campus with connectors at other university events, where you will have the opportunity to borrow Wellbeing\/Leisure books direct from the stall.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are so excited to see the changes Student Connectors are planning! You can follow the project on the @sussexlibrary Instagram and look out for future blog posts.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exciting changes are happening!  The Library Wellbeing Area is currently under redevelopment with the help of four Student Connectors, Katie, Elena, Mariola and Chloe.  Established two years ago, the Wellbeing Area has been a great addition to the library and…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":399,"featured_media":991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[4491],"tags":[202482,202484,150339],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/files\/2024\/04\/image.jpeg?fit=743%2C641&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1079,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/2024\/07\/04\/wild-wellbeing-reflections-from-a-non-stop-musical-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":990,"position":0},"title":"Wild Wellbeing: Reflections from a non-stop musical mind","date":"4 July 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Helena MacCormack Wild Wellbeing\u00a0is an organisation that describes its field of practice as \"ecotherapy\". I describe myself, as I'm sure many higher education professionals would, as an overthinker. Caroline White runs this project and hosted us for a mindful walk on this sunny June afternoon. 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The reading group formed in response to the events of Summer 2020\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BLDS (British Library for Development Studies)"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":352,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/2021\/02\/19\/our-treasure-trove-of-printed-journals\/","url_meta":{"origin":990,"position":2},"title":"Our treasure trove of printed journals","date":"19 February 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Chloe Dobson - Collection Development Librarian Did you know that we have a basement area in The Library which is full of printed journals from all subject areas? 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From timeless classics to contemporary works, the Library facilitates access to an extensive collection that spans genres, eras, and cultures. These scripts not only serve as material for productions but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Library"","img":{"alt_text":"A woman standing, reading from a script and holding her hand aloft.","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/files\/2024\/05\/Adobe-Lightfield-Studios-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":826,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/2023\/12\/20\/archiving-and-administering-the-library-and-afras-at-sussex-guest-blog-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":990,"position":4},"title":"Archiving and administering the Library and AFRAS at Sussex: guest blog post","date":"20 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Reposted from the Decolonial Maps of Library Learning blog By Alice Corble and Rhiann Tester This overdue blog post features a guest contributor, Rhiann Tester, Assistant Library Administrator at Sussex. I\u2019ll briefly introduce the context of our collaboration before handing over to Rhiann. Future blog posts will build on Rhiann\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Library"","img":{"alt_text":"Two lever files labeled 'Library Committee Papers' and 'AFRAS School Meetings 7th Autumn 65 - 35th Summer 71'","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/files\/2023\/12\/Library-AFRAS-folders-1024x768-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":789,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/2023\/11\/03\/the-power-of-poetry-and-living-libraries-for-decolonial-dialogue\/","url_meta":{"origin":990,"position":5},"title":"The Power of Poetry and Living Libraries for Decolonial Dialogue","date":"3 November 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Reposted on from Decolonial Maps of Library Learning blog\u00a031 October 2023\u00a0by\u00a0Alice Corble. As Black History Month draws to a close (yet\u00a0Black History must continue to be shared) and I adjust to the turn of the season and new positions, I want to reflect today on The Power of Poetry and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Black History Month"","img":{"alt_text":"Jenny Mitchell and Erin James in conversation at The Power of Poetry and Living Libraries event","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/files\/2023\/11\/230928-PowerOfPoetryEvent-6-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/399"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=990"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":994,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990\/revisions\/994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/librarycollections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}