Spiritual Formation and RISE

For the Libraries, Faith and Service Go Hand in Hand

Pepperdine Libraries’ spiritual formation committee identifies and shares ways in which library employees might grow in spiritual awareness as informed by Christian values, beliefs, and practices. The committee organized two volunteer activities, the first occurring on Step Forward Day, the University’s annual day of service. The library group went to Calvary Christian School and Church to help organize the children’s ministry supply closets. There they sorted, organized, and labeled costumes, games, toys, and art supplies. The second activity brought our volunteers to the Malibu Elementary School library (right) to catalog and process new books, create book covers, and organize shelving.

Embracing the New RISE Initiative at Pepperdine

As part of the University’s new ResilienceInformed Skills Education (RISE) initiative, Pepperdine Libraries made providing mental health resources a priority. We supported well-being by creating a Mental Health Resources InfoGuide and setting up a display of books on the subject at Payson Library. In collaboration with the Student Wellness Advisory Board, we transformed the Surfboard Room into a relaxation room for a day, and later we brought therapy dogs to hang out at Payson to help students cope with stress from final exams. The universality of stress was validated for students when Emmy Award–winning actor Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Veep, Toy Story 4) spoke at Payson Library about his struggles with anxiety, an event copresented by the Counseling Center.

PEPPERDINE LIBRARIES

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