Belk Library has three new spaces to support student success and well-being:
- a Sensory Room near the main entrance,
- a Sensory Lounge on the third floor, and,
- an Alternative Study Room on the third floor.
Sensory spaces are comfortable environments designed to help students manage sensory overload, relieve stress and anxiety, and return to their studies with renewed focus. Belk Library's sensory spaces are equipped with calming lighting, low and active seating, and tools for relaxation like white noise machines, fidgets, and weighted lap pads.
University Libraries collaborated with numerous groups across campus to create the spaces. The Student Government Association (SGA) generously donated funds to help support the project and SGA members advised on the design of the spaces, as did the Neurodivergent Students and Allies Club, the Dean's Library Student Advisory Board, and Interior Design student Brittany Byrum. The new spaces are already heavily used and the library has received a great deal of positive feedback about them.
These spaces are open to all App State students, faculty, and staff. Whether it’s to reduce stress before an exam or find a quiet retreat between classes, we encourage you to visit the library and take advantage of these calming retreats.
The first floor Sensory Room features floor rockers, alternative lighting, and tools for sensory regulation like fidgets and weighted lap pads.
