Tucked between the shelves of books and study rooms, ASU libraries offer more than just academic materials; they are spaces always open and working for students.
The libraries host events, hold exhibits and offer services for students to get creative and access technology they would not otherwise have.
ASU has eight libraries across its four campuses, including one on the Los Angeles campus and four in Tempe.
While students can use the libraries as a way to find textbooks, these spaces aim to help students in and outside of their academic life, said Christina Peck, the communications and outreach program coordinator for Communications and Web Services.
The libraries provide de-stressing events like crafting, button making, vision boards and bookmarks, allowing students to escape their stress and then go back to it with higher resilience.
"Part of why that is important too is there's a lot of research that shows the power of creativity; the act of being creative puts you in a meditative state," Peck said. "It kind of takes you outside of your stress."
Along with creative outlets, the libraries partner with Sun Devil Paws Therapy, an organization that has volunteers bring in their personal pets to help destress students visiting the library.
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The library is a place intended to meet the needs of all students, Peck said.
"It's important to us that we sit at the crossroads of a lot of students and in their lives," Peck said. "We are not a part of any single academic school, which means we're here for everyone."
Peck said the de-stressing and wellness events stemmed from wanting to support students dealing with the stress following COVID-19.
Because another big stressor for students is finding jobs, Peck said she wanted the library to act as a solution to mitigate that stress.
Peck began collaborating with Career Services this semester to help connect students with opportunities through library drop-ins.
Drop-ins are when the library provides Career Services counselors a space in the library to be visible to students, so they are aware of the resources offered, Peck said.
"It's bringing together lots of units throughout the library to come support the students," Peck said. "Do something fun, help students de-stress, that's a really big important thing for us."
With millions of information resources, Peck said it can be confusing for students to find specific resources they need. She said the library offers a unique service to help students find these services — Ask a Librarian.
"The No. 1 thing, if people forget everything else about the library, is that we have this live Ask a Librarian chat service to help them in their research," Peck said.
This service lets students speak directly with expert librarians to find textbooks or papers needed for a class or other purposes.
Jim O'Donnell, a professor in the school of historical, philosophical and religious studies and University Librarian, said the libraries are equipped with hundreds of librarians specializing in different fields.
O'Donnell said having access to libraries and collections as large as ASU's puts into perspective "the complexity of the world and the complexity of knowing that world."
"That's why we have librarians," O'Donnell said. "When you show up from wherever you came from, and you want to begin to explore this stuff, you need some help. And we've got the people who provide the help."
ASU libraries offer a variety of creative outlets for students. Victor Surovec, the director of Makerspace, said Hayden Library is a place where students have access to different kinds of technology to experiment with.
He said some services include sewing machines, 3D printing, tech lending, book scanning and high-end electronics testing equipment.
Whether it be for a school or personal project, Surovec said there are people wanting to help.
"We're just trying to give you these skill sets," Surovec said. "We just care that you're learning new skills that are going to benefit you. So we're here."
O'Donnell said because of all the services the library offers, it can serve as a third space — a place for students that is not work or school.
It was important when redesigning the library in 2020 that it was designed to best fit students' needs, even down to little details such as adding microwaves for those who are fitting in a late night study session, O'Donnell said.
Hayden Library was designed to have sections where students can come in groups but also spaces for students who want a quiet environment, with the floors getting quieter as students go up.
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He said he's enjoyed seeing students utilizing the space in any way they need, even recalling a time he found a student watching the sitcom M*A*S*H.
O'Donnell wants libraries to be safe spaces for students and hopes the library can keep doing better on its mission to aid all students.
"It's your space. You're in control," O'Donnell said. "You use it for your purposes, and if it's watching M*A*S*H, that's really good."
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison Lillestol is a reporter for the community and culture desk. She is in her 3rd semester with the State Press. She also works for the Arizona PBS.
