As Campbell Library has entered Phase 2 of its renovation process, library staff are working hard to ensure that students still have easy access to essential academic resources — even while the physical library space remains under construction.
While students can continue to browse the full catalog online and request books for pickup, the experience of physically browsing the stacks is something many have missed. In response, Education Librarian Ash Lierman launched the Tiny Library initiative — a pop-up browsing experience that brings curated collections of books directly to students.
Regularly hosted in James Hall, the Tiny Library has featured themed collections over the past few months, covering topics such as Women’s History, Trans Visibility, Get Happy, National Reading Month, and Black History Month. These rotating displays offer students the chance to browse and check out books on the spot, making it easier to engage with diverse topics and enjoy spontaneous reading moments.
On Friday, May 2, librarians Ash Lierman, Dan Kipnis (STEM Librarian), Samantha Kennedy (Information Literacy Librarian), and Anu Vedantham (Associate Director of Teaching & Learning) participated in a campus-wide Well-Being event hosted by Rowan’s Academic Support Programs by setting up a Well-Being Tiny Library in Savitz Hall to help students de-stress before finals.
Anu Vedantham, Associate Director of Teaching & Learning, expressed gratitude for the collaboration, stating, “My thanks to Erin Hannah, Director of Academic Support Programs, for inviting the Tiny Library to Wellbeing Day. The Tiny Library is nurtured by many parts of the Rowan University Libraries. Nancy Demaris, Dan Pugh, Sara Morgan and Becki Topper gave essential assistance on May 2. We look forward to bringing the Tiny Library around to many parts of campus this fall.”
The event included wellness-themed activities such as Paint & Sip, Bingo, and Academic Support sessions, along with refreshments. The Well-Being Tiny Library complemented these offerings by featuring books on topics such as mindfulness, organization, gratitude, and positivity, in addition to academic success resources. It also spotlighted electronic resources available through the library, including streaming yoga and meditation.
In previous years, Campbell Library has hosted in-building “mindful break” stations during finals season. However, due to the ongoing renovations, this wasn’t possible this semester. The Tiny Library serves as one of many creative solutions the library team has implemented to ensure that resources supporting students’ academic, emotional, and mental well-being remain accessible during the renovation. Even without a physical library space, Rowan Libraries continues to champion student success and well-being—one Tiny Library at a time.
