Meditation Room Open in Lovejoy Library
Posted September 6, 2019
With great interest in addressing the needs of the 21st century student, the library created a meditation room. In 2018, the library received a grant from Trust for the Meditation Process (link: https://trustformeditation.org/). Lovejoy Library is the first library to submit a proposal to the grantor for such a space. Principal Investigator for the grant and Metadata Librarian Marlee Graser states, “We didn’t really realize how much the space was needed in the library until we started writing the grant.” Assistant Dean Juliet Gray and Metadata Librarian Marlee Graser teamed up to co-create the space. The two plan to build a community of meditators by providing a room in the library, now located on the quiet and more secluded third floor - LL 3003. The room is be geared towards students and faculty on campus and serves for more than meditation alone. “We would like to create a shared space for mindfulness and prayer, contemplation and reflection—a space to meet the needs of all on campus," said Graser.
Both expressed the importance of creating an environment of openness in the library with a desire to coordinate with other groups on campus. “All are invited. The center is open to all levels from people who have no experience to those with many years of experience," said Gray. Lovejoy Library's Meditation Room is a space open to all, regardless of religious affiliation or philosophy. It has been designed for silent meditation, contemplation, or prayer.
Questions or feedback about the room can be sent to:
Juliet Kerico Gray
Health Sciences Librarian
jkerico@siue.edu
Marlee Graser
Metadata Librarian
magrase@siue.edu
