As higher education professionals, we sometimes take it for granted that our stakeholders – students, faculty, staff, the community – intuitively know how to use our resources. In reality, places that we may find comfortable, like the university library, can be intimidating to those who need our services. Think about first-generation students or newly minted graduate students or retirees in the community – these audiences may not know where to start when they step into, say, the vast six-storey expanse of Newman Library (above) at my institution, Virginia Tech.
My background is in composition theory and instructional design, so when I first began working in the library nine years ago, I naturally focused on information literacy and pedagogy. But what I’ve come to appreciate is how powerfully the library can serve as a welcoming, low-pressure space for all members of the campus and surrounding community – if, that is, we run it with that goal in mind.
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In this article, I share approaches that have worked well for us to centre the university library as a vital resource and place of belonging for students and employees – and for members of the community outside the university.
Collaborate widely and creatively
The first way to put out the library’s welcome mat is to partner with other units – especially those focused on wellness. Our work with the Cook Counseling Center, for example, dates back to 2018, when their therapy dogs appeared in a library video about how to find a book. Since then, we’ve collaborated on events, videos and even weekly drop-in office hours for students in the library itself.
We also work with the university’s Cultural and Community Centers to create targeted programming such as our Pride Book Fair or APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Book Fair, where all the materials and “swag” are free. These fairs build on the nostalgic joy of childhood book fairs, while showcasing fresh voices.
Use joy and curiosity as a gateway
Create programming that is low-stakes, joyful and open-ended. Events can become an accessible, light-hearted way to draw students into the library space. One of our most successful ongoing initiatives is our therapy dog birthday parties – yes, you read that right. Several times a year, we host themed events around the birthdays of our campus therapy dogs, complete with cake, a dog ball pit and learning activities on digital literacy, wellness resources or academic support.
The lesson here is giving people permission to show up as they are – even if they’re just there for cake – and let curiosity take it from there.
Normalise reading for pleasure
Introduce activities people can do simply for enjoyment. We’ve developed a robust popular reading collection at Newman Library, modelled more on a public library than a traditional academic one. This includes fiction, graphic novels and young-adult books, and it’s used by students, employees, the community.
Why does this matter? It brings people into the library in ways that feel personally meaningful.
Connect through shared experiences
Encourage gatherings that galvanise belonging. In populations such as student bodies, even with many varied majors, experiences and backgrounds, certain experiences are shared by most if not all. Leverage this to build community.
At Virginia Tech, one of our longest-running traditions is Cheesy Nights, a twice-yearly event where we serve free grilled cheese sandwiches to students during final exams. On the surface, it’s a quirky stress reliever, but it’s so much more. It’s a moment of solidarity in a high-stress season, a small but powerful gesture that says: “You’re not alone.” Every student knows the pressure of finals week. That shared experience becomes a bridge, and when it’s built inside the library, it helps redefine the space as a place where you’re seen, supported and connected.
Low-stakes events invite laughter and build memory. When students think back to their college experience, they may not recall the exact page they cited in a research paper, but they’ll remember the grilled cheese – and the feeling that they belonged.
Make space for making mistakes
Frame the library as a place where it’s OK to fail or just be a beginner. In our creative studio spaces, we’ve made it a priority to support experimentation without judgement. Students, employees and community members can explore podcasting equipment or video-editing or VR tools, with no expertise required.
The key here is creating a space where learners feel safe trying new things. That psychological safety builds deeper engagement over time.
Design for the full community – not just students
Since university libraries may function as both an academic and public library, avoid over-academic framing in events and signage.
Newman Library serves community members from the surrounding region, including retirees and K–12 students. Our goal is to eliminate the kind of language or design that implies people don’t belong. Whether it’s a local eighth grader attending an event or a faculty member stopping by on a Friday morning, everyone should feel like the library is theirs.
Engage in advocacy through access
Designing libraries for connection and comfort, not just coursework, can change the way patrons engage with learning, with each other, and with the university as a whole. In an age where belonging can’t be assumed, our libraries can quietly but powerfully remind every learner that they matter, that they’re welcome, and that knowledge is for them. The library is uniquely positioned to bravely, radically hold that space.
Kayla McNabb is the assistant director for teaching and learning engagement in the University Libraries at Virginia Tech.
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