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LIBRARY conference
Florida Association of College & Research Libraries (FACRL)
2025 Florida Association of College & Research Libraries
(FACRL) Virtual Conference
October 24, 2025
From Stress to Success:
The Academic Library as a Hub for Student Well-Being
Jason Anfinsen (University of Wisconsin, La Crosse), Jasmine George (University of Central Florida), Jasmine Simmons (University of Florida), Sarah J. Hammill (Florida International University), Leah Plocharczyk (Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter), & Nicole Sotak (Seminole State College of Florida)
2025 FACRL VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
2025 FACRL VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
In today’s evolving higher education landscape, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gen Z students are actively seeking opportunities to connect with peers and feel a sense of belonging. Spending their formative years defined by lockdowns, virtual learning, and prolonged periods of social isolation, many Gen Z students arrive on campus with heightened needs for emotional and social connection. Academic librarians are uniquely positioned to support student well-being by creating spaces and programming that foster emotional, social, and personal growth within their libraries.
This presentation will begin with a brief description of Gen Z students and the challenges that have shaped their educational and personal experiences. It will then highlight the work of six academic librarians from State College and University libraries who have responded to their students’ needs by reimagining engagement activities and events through creative, inclusive, and low-cost initiatives that contribute meaningfully to students’ holistic well-being.
From “stress less” activities (e.g., pop up crafts, snack breaks, and guided meditation) to engaging meet-and-mingle events, these programs demonstrate how libraries are promoting a broader culture of care on campus. Presenters will share key takeaways, challenges, and lessons learned that illustrate the evolving and responsive role of academic libraries in promoting campus wellbeing. Join this presentation to discover how academic libraries can serve as dynamic, student-centered hubs for connection, care, and community.
uwl murphy library | october 2025 student engagement programs
UWL MURPHY LIBRARY | OCTOBER 2025 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ( see UWL Events )
oct 25 @ murphy library
Murphy Library hosted a series of student engagement activities to highlight the value of free and open access to information by celebrating the freedom to seek and express ideas during Banned Books Week, October 5-11, 2025.
Murphy Library displayed (Banned) books from the ML collections to showcase the university library as an information hub for free speech and non-censored expression.
Librarians and library staff introduced the book borrowing process to students and advanced the value of the ML collections by showcasing materials with book displays in the library and “on the road” at the Student Union with the new Murphy MOBILE Library series.
By stimulating an interest in ML across campus, the library team increased awareness, cultivated interactions with students, highlighted books and reading as pathways to lifelong learning, and advanced information literacy by teaching students why books were challenged, censored, or banned.
Tabling at Murphy Library on Monday, October 6, 2025 // Pictured From left to right: Sam Steingraeber, Special Collections Assistant, and Jason Anfinsen, Student Engagement and Outreach Librarian
NIGHTBRARY
NIGHTBRARY
I created Lunchbrary and Nightbrary, noisy academic library program models that creatively fuse the arts, games, and music into a weekly engagement extravaganza for First-Year seminar students in THEIR college library.
I wrote two soon-to-be-published chapters on Nightbrary and its impact on student engagement in a pair of ACRL books about the Library as Space and engaging students through meaningful participatory programming in the college library.
LUNCHBRARY
NIGHTBRARY
I define Lunchbrary as:
“A daytime collaborative extravaganza co-created by librarians, student clubs, college departments, and teaching faculty throughout the library space”
Lunchbrary hits different.
Lunchbrary runs in the daytime.
Lunchbrary is 1 hour - every Wednesday, same day as Nightbrary.
The major difference is that Lunchbrary is built on College collaboration. College departments present in the Cozy Corner and Student Clubs host events in the Art Area and Game Gallery. Over 15-weeks (and one finals party to close out each term), the library co-creates each unique Lunchbrary experience with many program partners.
research rly
research rly
I conceptualized RESEARCH RALLY in the Spring of 2002 originally as part of Nightbrary, which introduced faculty librarians from Seminole State College to first-year seminar students in the undergraduate IDS1107 course, which requires participation at a minimum of two college programs or events.
Along with librarian colleagues Nicole Sotak and Ross Martin, we delivered 73 Research Rally live recorded online instructional video episodes to meet and engage students at their virtual point of need, and teach FY students information literacy using emerging technologies during a live broadcast streamed online and captured for YouTube.
Nicole Sotak became managing producer and re-imagined the live librarian instruction web series as Research Rally Live. We recorded 30 episodes.
nightbrary
summer 2025 nightbrary
NIGHTBRARY spring 2025 FINALS PARTY
NIGHTBRARY spring 2025 FINALS PARTY
NIGHTBRARY > Art, Games, Music!
SUMMER 2025 EDITION!
WEDNESDAYS @ SLM Library | 5 - 7 P.M.
MAY 14 - AUG 6
Nightbrary is a unique student engagement extravaganza featuring art, games, and music at SLM Library.
Come to the library every Wednesday from 5 - 7 p.m. this SUMMER and get engaged with SSC students, faculty, and staff.
Play Xbox Series S with game pass, hit the ping pong table, enter the world of Dungeons and Dragons, or compete against students in the SLM Chess Club.
Sing a karaoke solo on stage or belt out a group song with your friends or student life club members.
Make art in the student art area with acrylic paint and watercolors, or take it back to the old school with markers, crayons, or colored pencils.
Librarians are available to assist with reference or research questions and help with citations for college assignments.
Oh, we also serve snacks and sodas, and everyone gets First-Year Experience (FYE) credit for the IDS1107 Flightpath Class.
Your Library. Your Nightbrary!
NIGHTBRARY spring 2025 FINALS PARTY
NIGHTBRARY spring 2025 FINALS PARTY
NIGHTBRARY spring 2025 FINALS PARTY
NIGHTBRARY 2025 FINALS PARTY
Dozens of students and more friends from the greater Sanford/Lake Mary community came to SLM Library to enjoy the 5-HOUR Nightbrary Finals Party that closed out the Spring 2025 semester on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Seminole State College of Florida.
A marvelous collection of students who met and became friends at Nightbrary earlier in the term formed a band and performed LIVE! The entire live stream is on the Seminole State Library's YouTube page.
The library bought Publix subs for dinner and dished up cookies and coffee for dessert. A new Chess Club tournament champion was crowned, and two graduating students received commemorative mugs, personalized with their names, and were celebrated as Library Lifers.
Pictured is the crew on stage in the Cozy Cozy performance section of the SLM Library.
lunchbrary
summer 2025 lunchbrary
LUNCHBRARY
Summer 2025 Edition!
MAY 14 - AUG 6
11:30 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Every Wednesday
@ SLM Library
Come to YOUR library and experience Lunchbrary every Wednesday @ SLM Library.
Engage with library staff and learn with librarians while playing games, making art, and creating new knowledge with the SSC Community.
Check the calendar each week for different events, ranging from chess tournaments and paint parties to financial literacy workshops and spotlights on library services, resources, and collections!
Attend any Lunchbrary event, grab free snacks, and earn attendance credit for your first-year experience (FYE) IDS1107 course.
Your Library. Your Lunchbrary!
SPRING 2025 LUNCHBRARY
Lunchbrary is back this Spring with another exciting term of student engagement events, Wednesdays @ SLM Library.
Program collabs with two different stages - area one for departments across the college and area two is for student life organizations.
2024 NEWS
NIGHTBRARY CHAPTER PROPOSAL ACCEPTED
DEC 2024
CHAPTER PROPOSAL ACCEPTED
My chapter proposal, “Nightbrary: Fusing art, games, and music into a weekly student engagement experience inside the college library,” has been selected for inclusion in the upcoming book, Academic Libraries and the First Year Experience.
About the Book:
Academic Libraries and the First Year Experience aims to share how academic libraries can help positively impact the first-year experience of students. This edited book will highlight and showcase the work librarians are doing in the realm of outreach and programming within the first-year experience, focusing on collaborations and student success.
Edited By:
Jillian Eslami, Texas A&M University and Heather Snapp, Florida Gulf Coast University
Publisher:
Association of College Research Libraries [ ACRL ]
Publication anticipated fall 2026
Florida Library association Conference
MAY 2024
The 2024 Nightbrary World Tour continued May 17 in Orlando, Florida, as Librarian Nicole Sotak, Library Director Morgan Tracy, and I presented on Lunchbrary x Nightbrary: New Methods for Student Engagement for 60+ academic & public library colleagues at the Florida Library Association (FLA) Annual Conference. Proud to represent Seminole State College of Florida and share our BRARY.
First-Year Experience Conference
First-Year Experience Conference
FEB 2024
Represented Seminole State at the 43rd Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in SEATTLE and presented on the SSC College Libraries' student engagement program series -
New Methods for Student Engagement
Leadership Academy
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
First-Year Experience Conference
JAN 2024
Travelled to TALLAHASSEE with the Leadership Academy Class XV to tour the FL state’s capitol and supreme court, meet with lawmakers and legislators, and learn more about the legislative process.
Seminole State Dream Gala
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
FEB 2024
Volunteered for a third consecutive year with the Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida to raise over $600k for student scholarships and programs at Seminole State College at the 40th annual Dream Gala.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATE
APR 2024
Completed Leadership Academy and am proud to be an alumnus of Class 15, along with two dozen college employees, of this yearlong leadership development program. Pictured with SSC President, Dr. Georgia Lorenz.
LIS2004 SPRING B
summer 2024 NIGHTBRARY
spring NIGHTBRARY
MAR 2024
Taught LIS2004 Research Strategies for College Students at Seminole State College of Florida in the Spring "B" session in 2024.
spring NIGHTBRARY
summer 2024 NIGHTBRARY
spring NIGHTBRARY
SPRING 2024
Produced 138 Spring session student engagement programs at Seminole State College Libraries, including Lunchbrary and Nightbrary.
summer 2024 NIGHTBRARY
summer 2024 NIGHTBRARY
summer 2024 NIGHTBRARY
MAY 2024
Produced 11 weeks of Nightbrary this summer and co-creating events with students in the brand new - Brary Brunch - library club for different 2-hour spectaculars from 5 - 7 p.m. every Wednesday beginning May 15 @ SLM Library.
oct 25 @ murphy library
Murphy Library hosted a series of student engagement activities to highlight the value of free and open access to information by celebrating the freedom to seek and express ideas during Banned Books Week, October 5-11, 2025.
Murphy Library displayed (Banned) books from the ML collections to showcase the university library as an information hub for free speech and non-censored expression.
Librarians and library staff introduced the book borrowing process to students and advanced the value of the ML collections by showcasing materials with book displays in the library and “on the road” at the Student Union with the new Murphy MOBILE Library series.
By stimulating an interest in ML across campus, the library team increased awareness, cultivated interactions with students, highlighted books and reading as pathways to lifelong learning, and advanced information literacy by teaching students why books were challenged, censored, or banned.
Tabling at Murphy Library on Monday, October 6, 2025 // Pictured From left to right: Sam Steingraeber, Special Collections Assistant, and Jason Anfinsen, Student Engagement and Outreach Librarian
uwl murphy library | october 2025 student engagement programs
UWL MURPHY LIBRARY | OCTOBER 2025 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ( see UWL Events )