Fall 2011 – Keep Calm & Study Strong

College Library offered a variety of activities and give-aways for students in the library to help them “Keep Calm and Study Strong” and reduce the end-of-semester stress. Together with campus partners, the library tried to bring a little fun into an otherwise anxiety-ridden week of exams and final projects. Re-purposing a WWII slogan (Keep Calm and Carry On), College Library again emphasized the importance of being able to “Study Strong” during finals. Indeed, after introducing the phrase and Twitter hashtag in 2009, all of the UW-Madison Libraries adopted the hashtag #studystrong for their Tweets of encouragement at the end of the fall semester.

The finals events kicked off with “Keep Calm and Muffle Sound” an ear-plug give-away on Wednesday, December 14. With a number of construction projects disrupting College Library this semester (and some projects continuing through finals) students were encouraged to help themselves to a little noise-reducing aid. Also on that day, Wisconsin Alumni Association provided Rockstar energy drinks. Their entire supply was gone in twenty minutes! Thursday, December 15, brought the Open Book Cafe coffee give-away. From 7pm-2am students were able to choose between free coffee, tea or hot chocolate, courtesy of the Wisconsin Union.

From noon until midnight on Friday, December 16, GUTS tutors were available for last-minute tutoring needs. Free coffee and treats were on hand for those receiving assistance. The event was co-sponsored by ASM and the Division of Student Life. On Saturday, December 17, from 3-5 pm, five minute chair massages were provided by TIBIA massage-therapy students.

On Sunday, December 18, students were encouraged to “Keep Calm and Snip Strong” – by making snowflakes, adding a message of support, and helping decorate the library for the season – while Monday, December 19, brought calming koosh balls and other stress-relieving toys. For the first time ever in the fall semester, therapy dogs from Dogs on Call visited the library from 4-5:30 pm on Tuesday, December 20. Our final event, “Keep Calm and Sugar Strong” involved free candy at the library’s service desks. There’s nothing like a little boost of sugar to help one “study strong.”

All week long there were also hand-outs with tips for reducing stress, exercises designed for sitting at tables for lengthy periods of time, and puzzles available for a little brain break. Everyone’s favorite morale booster, Bucky Badger, stopped by as well!

We appreciate the assistance from many campus partners in offering a variety of activities and give-aways during the end of the semester, including the Wisconsin Union (Open Book free coffee), ASM and the Division of Student Life (GUTS Study Day), WAA (energy beverage give-away), the Athletic Department (visit from Bucky Badger), University Health Services (massages), Dogs on Call (therapy dogs), and the Library Director Carrie Kruse (candy). College Library could not do it without your support.

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