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Poster Session

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Poster Session:

Fostering a sense of belonging and wellbeing in the Library

Presenters:
Dr Nicole Johnston, Pia Henry 
Date:
Tuesday 12 May | 1:00pm – 1:30pm 

Presentation Description:

ECU Library undertook a project in 2025 that included a wellness area, wellness dogs, food and breakfast for students, events and activities. The project aimed to create a sense of belonging for students, celebrate and reflect the diversity of the community and encourage meaningful engagement between patrons and staff. A survey was conducted with 400 students gaining insights on their experiences and what activities and events would improve their sense of belonging to the Library. In order to gain the most useful insights, students themselves co-designed and conducted the surveys and will run activities and events in 2026 based on fellow student feedback. The Library was also interested in understanding if diverse groups of students, ie students with disabilities, LGBITQ+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and international students felt their identity was represented and that the library is inclusive to all students, with questions in the survey specifically focusing on these areas.
The poster will outline the results of the survey and show examples of events and activities run to improve students’ wellbeing and foster a sense of belonging including how these events impacted their wellbeing. Preliminary results from the wellbeing space, breakfast events and wellness dogs initiatives show positive outcomes. Students said the wellness space was a peaceful and relaxed space, where you meet really good people and they liked the different seating arrangements. Library interactions with wellness dogs show exceptional positive outcomes across all measured wellbeing indicators with 100% positive emotion improvement, 100% negative emotion reduction with the strongest improvement being inspiration. The Library aims to use the results from the survey and feedback about initiatives to adjust services, spaces and activities to better represent all users of the Library and improve both their wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Dr Nicole Johnston

Associate University Librarian of Digital and Information Literacy, Edith Cowan University

Presenter Bio

Dr Nicole Johnston is the Associate University Librarian of Digital and Information Literacy at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. Previously, Nicole was a Lecturer of Library and Information Studies at Edith Cowan University and University College London in Qatar. Nicole has also worked as a librarian in various roles in Australia, Ireland and Dubai. Nicole is currently a board director of ALIA.

Pia Henry

Library Experience Adviser, Edith Cowan University

Presenter Bio

Pia Henry is the Library Experience Adviser at Edith Cowan University. She has many years of experience in the library sector and currently leads the coordination, delivery and evaluation of front-line Library services across ECU’s three campuses., Her role has a strong focus on creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming library spaces that support diverse learning communities.