Academics

University Libraries hosts DeStress Fest with study break snacks, activities

University Park library locations help students battle end-of-semester stress

A life-sized Scrabble board is among the games offered. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the fall semester comes to a close, the University Libraries will host its popular “DeStress Fest” from 3-8 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, Dec. 11-13, in the Pattee Library and Paterno Library on the University Park campus. Free coffee and snacks will be available in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, each day during those hours with fun and relaxing study-break activities to help reduce the stress of studying for finals and completing papers and projects.

Bean bag toss boards, Wii games and puzzles will be stationed in the first-floor lobbies of Pattee Library and Paterno Library throughout finals week. In addition to those study-break activities, graduation cap decorating for graduating students, yoga, storytime and a daily dance party have been added to the list of options for students during DeStress Fest.

A gentle yoga class at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, can help students calm their minds and relieve stress. Students can take a break from their textbooks and projects at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, when the University Libraries will present storytime. Beginning at 6 p.m. each evening of DeStress Fest, Franklin Atrium will host a 15-minute dance party to give students a chance to stretch and move around after long hours of studying.

In addition to the festivities in the Pattee Library and Paterno Library, branch library locations at University Park also will offer activities and snacks for students. The Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library will provide origami projects and puzzles all day Sunday-Friday, Dec. 4-9, with snacks and drinks offered from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 6-8. The Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library will offer puzzles and other study-break activities as well as apples and snacks, while supplies last, each day Sunday, Dec. 11, through Thursday, Dec. 15.

The schedule for DeStress Fest activities at all University Park library locations is below:

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
(first floor, Stuckeman Family Building)

Sunday-Friday, Dec. 4-9
Origami projects and puzzles (all day)

Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 6-8
7-9 p.m. snacks and drinks

Pattee Library and Paterno Library
3-8 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, Dec. 11-13
Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library

Free coffee and snacks
Art therapy
Cap decorating

Paterno Library Lobby
Puzzles (all day)

Pattee Library Lobby, Central
Wii games and bean bag toss (all day)

6 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, Dec. 11-13
Franklin Atrium Dance party

4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12
Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library
Gentle yoga (no special clothing or mat required)

4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13
Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno
Library Storytime

Fletcher L. Byrom Earth and Mineral Sciences Library (first floor, Deike Building)
Sunday-Thursday, Dec. 11-15
Apples and snacks (all day, while supplies last)
Puzzles and other activities (all day)

Engineering Library (third floor, Hammond Building)
Sunday, Dec. 11 6-7 p.m.
Snacks and drinks (please bring your own cup)

Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 12-14
10-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. Snacks and drinks (please bring your own cup)
Puzzles and other activities

Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library (second floor, Davey Lab)
Monday-Thursday, Dec. 12-15

Apples and snacks (all day, while supplies last)
Puzzles and other activities

For more information about DeStress Fest or for questions about accommodations for this event, contact Megan Gilpin at 814-867-0069 or mcg13@psu.edu.

Last Updated December 5, 2016