Benedictine University’s (BenU) Library has received some exciting news. Thanks to a grant from Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), students will soon have access to a variety of tools designed to support those with social and physical disorders. The $3,190 award will fund the creation of five kits filled with helpful items, all available for checkout.
These items include sound-canceling headphones with a case, weighted blankets, happy lights, white noise machines, soundproof earmuffs, wraparound sunglasses, fidgets, and calm strips. Additional items will also be available for individual checkout. For students who need them, extra fidgets and calm strips will be kept at the library service desks for immediate use.
While the grant proposal highlights the benefits for students with specific needs, the Library expects the entire student body to find value in these resources. Whether it’s reducing distractions, managing stress, or simply creating a more comfortable study environment, the new additions aim to make campus life easier for everyone.
Luann DeGreve, MA, MLS, spearheaded the grant proposal and is thrilled to see the project move forward.
“We are grateful to RAILS for their support of this project,” said DeGreve. “We are excited to introduce these new items to the students when they return in the fall.”
For many, these small tools can make a big difference. The Library’s latest initiative promises to bring comfort to students in more ways than one.
