Well-being in action: Programming highlights

Creating spaces that support different styles of working, learning and studying is a priority for the University Libraries.

Our Broncos enjoy borrowing our plant buddies to decorate their study table. We introduced them in spring 2024 to help make our library spaces “greener.” Spending time in nature, caring for plants, or even just working around plants, can have a positive effect on people.

Thanks to a new partnership with Western’s Finch Greenhouse, our plants are looking better than ever! The greenhouse provides care and rotates new plants in when ours need some extra care. 
 

The University Libraries hosted the third annual Waldo Fest in February 2025. Students flocked to Waldo Library to connect with more than 30 academic support services and registered student organizations. 

The event also featured self-care activities and entertainment like therapy dogs and a scavenger hunt. We also provided opportunities for free, professional headshots during the event, to help students prepare for upcoming career fairs.

The event was created in 2023 to help students stay connected after the rush of fall activities and events fade into a quieter spring semester.

“I wanted to create a fun, social event for students so they could connect to services and offices in the spring semester,” said Dr. Kate Langan, engagement librarian and Waldo Fest organizer. “They can take advantage of services for the rest of the semester.

Events like Waldo Fest bring services and resources students need into one place, making it easier to discover and access.
 

The University Libraries’ Seed Library continues to grow with community partnerships, educational programming and an impressive stock of free seeds. We distributed over 5,900 seed packs to our Western community in 2025. We also offered new programming, including a soil workshop, to educate new growers on soil and planting best practices.

Growers shared photos and some stories about the seeds they took—and some donated seeds back to our library. We are so grateful for the donations from growers, seed companies and WMU Landscaping, which allow us to stock seeds that everyone can enjoy.

The Seed Library is open to everyone in our community during our public hours. Our Seed Library reopened for the 2026 growing season on Monday, Feb. 23!