Your Name and Title: Lori Chapin, Manager of Innovative Spaces
Library, School, or Organization Name: Miami University
Co-Presenter Name(s): Sarah Nagle, Creation and Innovation Librarian
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Oxford, Ohio
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Academic library staff, Community Library staff
Short Session Description (one line): Making Wellness: How Makerspaces Can Support Staff and Prevent Burnout
Full Session Description (as long as you would like): Makerspaces in libraries are perfectly placed to add in-house wellness support to staff and the wider community. Because of the proven mental health benefits of hands-on making/crafting activities, these spaces are able to assist in preventing burnout and to promote overall wellness by providing programming that allows individuals to step away from their normal day and take time to pause and reflect on their mental health. Our academic library makerspace has partnered with our University’s Student Counseling Service and Howe Writing Center to encourage our community to engage in journaling and crafting to combat stress and find wellness. This presentation will explore ways that makerspaces can provide programming related to mental health, stress reduction, and wellness through making and crafting activities.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
An example of a program series we did in partnership with Student Counseling Services and the Howe Writing Center: https://libguides.lib.miamioh.edu/wellness_wed
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