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Supporting the Whole Student: Spaces and Services for Holistic Success
It’s crucial for the Library to proactively address students’ fundamental needs while also promoting their academic success and well-being. Everything we do, from the creation of adaptable spaces to the service-focused mindset of our employees, is intended to promote student success. A big part of this strategy is co-creating spaces and experiences that cultivate connection, regeneration and inspiration.
- ERIK MITCHELL, AUDREY GEISEL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN
As a university committed to student success, UC San Diego has a complex network of academic and support departments that work together to be ‘student-ready.’ To fulfill our unique role in this network, the Library is constantly evolving its spaces and services in both Geisel Library and WongAvery Library to offer students academic support alongside areas for connection, relaxation and community. By creating versatile, student-centered environments shaped by direct feedback, the Library contributes to the university’s commitment to student readiness, scholastic success and personal growth.
“It’s crucial for the Library to proactively address students’ fundamental needs while also promoting their academic success and well-being,” said Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell. “Everything we do, from the creation of adaptable spaces to the servicefocused mindset of our employees, is intended to promote student success. A big part of this strategy is cocreating spaces and experiences that cultivate connection, regeneration and inspiration.”
At the heart of the Library’s efforts to create adaptable, supportive environments is the Library Student Advisory Council (LSAC), a group of undergraduate and graduatestudent representatives who provide critical insights into space and service preferences and improvements.
Beyond LSAC’s guidance, the Library collects student input throughout the academic year via multiple channels, including its annual Fall Feedback Fest in November and Love and Break Up Letters to the Library each February. Additionally, the Library carefully reviews results from the university’s biennial Student Satisfaction Survey, ensuring that student voices inform decisions in real time. This collaborative approach empowers students to shape a library environment that feels truly their own — a place for study, belonging and community.
“Our commitment to studentcenteredness involves data-informed decision-making and regular assessments to ensure we continue to meet students’ evolving needs,” says Dani Brecher Cook, Associate University Librarian for Learning and User Experience. “With the ongoing feedback we receive from LSAC and our other outreach efforts, the Library integrates student insights to ensure its spaces and other offerings remain responsive to the diverse needs of the campus community.”
Here is a look at some of the standout spaces and programs the Library offers to support students on their journey to overall success:
Mindfulness Spaces: Calm Cave and Zen Den
When the demands of university life feel overwhelming, students can find refuge in two designated mindfulness spaces, the Calm Cave (Room 621) and Zen Den (Room 628). With incredible views from Geisel Library’s 6th Floor, these rooms provide soothing environments to meditate, reflect and recharge. The Calm Cave offers comfortable seating and a selection of wellness books, while the Zen Den creates a tranquil atmosphere to help students unwind and refocus.
Leisure Lounge Art and Game Room
Located in Geisel 1 West, the Leisure Lounge Art and Game Room invites students to decompress, connect with friends and tap into their creative sides whenever they need it. Surrounded by vibrant, reconfigurable furniture, students can take a study break with board games, origami or coloring sheets. Whether working on a printable puzzle or playing a game with friends, the space offers a refreshing break from the demands of studying.
New Study Nooks on Floor 1
The Library has reimagined Geisel 1 West by providing semi-private study nooks. Guided by extensive user feedback, the cozy nooks were installed in June 2024. They offer bright, comfortable spaces with sounddampening walls, whiteboards, charging outlets and motion-sensor lights. Two booths feature extended tables for wheelchair accessibility. Popular around the clock, these nooks meet the demand for personal study areas where students can focus in a quiet setting.
The Reimagined Geisel Tunnel
Embracing a student-centered codesign process with LSAC, the Library transformed the Geisel Tunnel into a vibrant multipurpose space that opened in Fall 2024. With the removal of traditional desktop computers, the 1st Floor tunnel is now an open, flexible environment for individual or communal study, shaped by student input. This redesign supports campus diversity, equity and inclusion goals by providing a range of student-selected seating options, plants and artwork to enhance student engagement, study or simply recharging.
De-Stress Activities and Resources
The Library offers a variety of de-stress activities throughout each quarter to help students unwind. Our de-stress webpage (lib.ucsd.edu/de-stress) serves as the central hub for updates on relaxation and wellness initiatives.
A beloved activity, De-Stress with Pups, brings certified therapy dogs from the nonprofit organization Love on a Leash to Geisel Library, offering students a calming, joyful experience.
Another favorite, Yoga at the Library, offers free, all-level yoga classes through UC San Diego Recreation during Weeks 1-10 each quarter. It encourages students to come to their mats for a practice that supports mental and physical wellness.
Located in Geisel 1 West and 2 East, WalkStations with low-speed treadmills and adjustable-height work surfaces let students stay active while they study. Foam rollers, available in 2 East and 1 Southwest, promote physical well-being by relieving stress and tension.
The Library further enhances engagement with pop-up events, offering activities like crafting and lo-fi study jams. During finals week, students can participate in hands-on projects such as building with LEGO bricks, working with air-dry clay, painting with watercolors and making DIY zen gardens.
To support mental well-being, the Library also offers a biweekly De-Stress Publication, featuring coloring pages, easy recipes and mindfulness tips. Additional virtual de-stress resources, like printable coloring pages, a rotating set of virtual jigsaw puzzles and recipes are available through the De-Stress LibGuide.
Graduate Study Lounge
The Graduate Study Lounge at WongAvery Library provides a dedicated space for UC San Diego’s graduate and professional students from all disciplines. Accessible 24/7 with pre-approved access cards, the lounge offers tables, seating and computers — equipping graduate students with a quiet, focused environment to conduct research, complete projects and collaborate with peers whenever works best in their schedules.
“The Library has played a key role in both my academic and personal growth. I value the variety of study spaces it offers, whether I need a quiet spot to focus or a collaborative area for group work,” said Kirsten Aguiluz, a Marshall College student majoring in media industries and communications and minoring in marketing, Class of 2027. “Resources like the Calm Cave and de-stress events during finals have been incredibly helpful in maintaining balance during busy times. The Library truly provides an environment where I can excel academically while also prioritizing my well-being.”
These diverse offerings underscore the Library’s commitment to nurturing the whole student and creating spaces that inspire focus, creativity and connection.
Are there other activities, amenities or resources you’d like to see?
Send your suggestions to LearningSpaces@ucsd.edu
