Category: Wellbeing

Summer Reading 2025: Top Picks from Durham University Library

Summer’s here – and for once it actually feels like summer! Hopefully you are all trying to make the most of the weather and any time off you might have.

Whether you’re jetting off somewhere sunny, staying local, or just enjoying a slower pace between terms, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into a good book (we are librarians, so of course we are going to think this a good idea).

At Durham University Library, we’ve got everything you need to build your perfect summer reading TBR (To Be Read) pile, from gripping thrillers and swoon-worthy romances to thought-provoking non-fiction and magical escapes. And the best part? You don’t even need to worry about baggage allowance for the flight. With the Libby app, you can borrow 5 eBooks/audiobooks (yes, audiobooks do count as reading!) at any one time, straight to your phone or tablet. Prefer the feel (and/or smell – we don’t judge) of a real book in your hands? We’ve got plenty of popular titles available in print as well.

Continue reading “Summer Reading 2025: Top Picks from Durham University Library” →
0

WellBEEing

By Graduate Intern Nancy Harber

Exam season is a familiar beast. Though admittedly many of the staff members here at the Bill Bryson Library have not met that beast head on in years, it’s not an experience that you easily forget.

The library has been filled (almost) to the brim these last few weeks with our students, just wanting to get their heads down and lock into the study zone. Seats have been sat in, study rooms have been constantly occupied, and when the sun decides to shine at midday our students congregate on the steps outside the library doors, soaking up some well-deserved Vitamin D and having a natter.

Continue reading “WellBEEing” →
0

Valentine’s Day feedback: you said, we did

You may remember back in February, we had a stand in the Billy B asking you “Tell us how you feel this Valentine’s Day.” You could write a note to us to tell us about something we’re doing that you love, or if you would like us to make some changes.

We loved hearing from everyone and got some great feedback from the people we spoke to; with both things you really like and things you want us to improve. We’ve gone through all the feedback and just wanted to share a brief update with where we’re up to with addressing some of the improvements.

Continue reading “Valentine’s Day feedback: you said, we did” →
0

Blind date with a book

A post by Graduate Intern Nancy Harber

According to Wikipedia, ‘Blue Monday’ (or, the most depressing day of the year) is calculated using an actual equation. The formula uses many factors, including W (weather), T (time since Christmas), Q (time since the failure of new year’s resolutions), and Na (the feeling of needing to take action). Some have dismissed this theory as pseudoscience, but clearly those people have never faced the bitter cold months of winter in the North of England.

Continue reading “Blind date with a book” →
0

New library reading list for Greenspace hopes to deliver wellbeing boost

A post by Sarah Cleeve

Optimistic climate scientists, “doughnut” economics, problem-solving fungi and rewilding are some of the topics on a newly-created Talis reading list: “Greenspace: reading on environment and sustainability”. This is now available to anyone in the university community wishing to know how best to navigate the often overwhelming problems of environmental sustainability while keeping a sense of wellbeing.

Continue reading “New library reading list for Greenspace hopes to deliver wellbeing boost” →
0

Cleaning up

A post by Faculty Librarian Ben Taylorson

I’m not really one for new year’s resolutions, but one thing I wanted to make sure I did in 2023 was make full use of the volunteering time that Durham University generously provides for staff. I have done a bit of volunteering through work before, at a foodbank and preparing Christmas treats for children. But with an entitlement of 35 hours of volunteering time to use, I set about finding something that I could do across the course of the whole year, via the Staff Volunteering Newsletter.

I’m quite an outdoorsy type, so I settled on litter picking/beach cleaning. The university work closely with SeaScapes to improve the state of our beaches and ultimately protect the fragile marine environment, and run monthly beach cleans (starting in April) on 1st Wednesday of every month 10 – 12pm.

Continue reading “Cleaning up” →
0

Cost of Living: How DULib can support you

A screenshot of the cost of living guide

We know the cost of living is an increasing concern for many of our staff and students, with the University providing a range of advisory and support services both centrally and through colleges.

We want to help to support you as much as we can, and so we’ve highlighted a number of services and initiatives that we already have in place, which we hope will help in the current financial situation.

These are available to all Durham staff and students, giving you free access to some of our amazing resources.

Continue reading “Cost of Living: How DULib can support you” →
0

‘Rockin’ around the Christmas (Wish) Tree…’

If you visited the Billy B last December or follow us on social media, you’ll have seen our lovely Christmas Tree opposite the Help and Information Desk, adorned with all the festive decorations you could want – twinkling lights, sparkling tinsel, beautiful baubles, and – the ultimate decoration for us – hand-made craft bees. 🐝

You’ll also have seen our very special gift tags hanging delicately from the branches, handwritten with wishes for items to be donated to local charities to help someone in need.

Continue reading “‘Rockin’ around the Christmas (Wish) Tree…’” →
0

Delightful dogs visit the Billy B

Promoting student wellbeing is always high on the agenda for us (see previous blog about self-care and wellbeing 😊). Particularly during Easter term, where pressures, anxieties and stress levels increase for many, thanks to the impending exam and assessment period. Planning study time, revision, getting enough sleep, eating well, taking breaks – all massively important but we know that sometimes, it can feel quite overwhelming to fit everything in.

To try and help with this, we’ve developed a schedule of wellbeing events and activities throughout May, kicking off with a visit last Wednesday during Deaf Awareness Week from the wonderful Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Continue reading “Delightful dogs visit the Billy B” →
0

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑