The meditation corner in the library at Penn State Hazleton is a quiet space stocked with items to help students relax and put their minds at ease.
After the space was set aside, a focus was placed on wellness initiatives and ways to incorporate them into the creation of the meditation corner. The area features a calm, comfortable setting with leather chairs and is stocked with items conducive to relaxation. Books on a range of topics from stress management to meditation to humor line the shelves. Stress balls and ginger candy are set out on a table. Two iPods loaded with meditation tunes and programs can be checked out from library staff. The variety of items was selected with the goal of offering relaxation methods suitable for everyone’s style.
Two computers offer software that complements the setting. One of the programs, emWave, connects a sensor placed on the ear to the computer to measure heart rate variability and provides tutorials to manage stress based on the resulting relaxation response. The other, TestEdge, is geared specifically for people with test anxiety. It provides a series of videos, information and hints that are helpful at easing that anxiety.