The Stress-Free Zone is back at the University Library.
From Sunday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 16, room L1114 will be stocked with healthy snacks, coffee, tea, movies, puzzles and games for our students to utilize.
Students are welcome to enter the Stress-Free Zone between 6 and 10 p.m. each evening to refuel and have some fun. This service is provided at no cost to students, and is just one of the many ways that the library actively attempts to improve the student experience.
Library personnel are keenly aware that as final exams approach, students experience increased levels of stress and anxiety. In 2009, professional librarian Nicole Eva noticed an opportunity for the library to help students alleviate their stress while preparing for finals and implemented the Stress-Free Zone.
Many students congregate in the library during final exam periods to use the resources and available spaces and to take advantage of increased library hours (the library is open until 11 p.m. each night from Nov. 26 through Dec. 17). Eva realized that the library was a natural place to provide a service like the Stress-Free-Zone because of its operating hours and its heavy use by students. Three years and six Stress-Free-Zones later, the library is still offering a stress-free environment for students, who have consistently and enthusiastically given positive feedback about the service.
A collaboration of resources from across the University makes the Stress-Free Zone successful. Library Administration, University of Lethbridge Students' Union and Sodexo combine resources to offer students free refreshments and a place to relax. The Alumni Association generously provides a prize for a raffle. The Career Resource Centre, Health Centre and Writing and Counseling Services support the event by providing their valuable print resources.
The result is a welcoming, stress-free environment for students where they need it, when they need it. The University Library thanks everyone involved for making this initiative a continued success.
This story first appeared in the December 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.
