Wellness at Phillips Memorial Library

A low sensory lounge in a library with warm wood paneling, brick walls, soft lighting, study carrels, armchairs, small tables, rugs, exercise balls, and calming sensory items. A sign on the back wall reads “Low Sensory Lounge.”

Wellness

Low-sensory lounge area featuring two upholstered lounge chairs, a cushioned ottoman, and a small round table arranged on a soft circular rug. Warm pendant lighting and natural wood furnishings create a calming atmosphere, with quiet study carrels and brick walls visible in the background.

At Phillips Memorial Library, we believe student well-being is an important part of academic success. The library offers a variety of spaces, collections, and activities designed to help students recharge, manage stress, focus on their goals, and feel supported throughout the academic year. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to relax, a creative activity, or tools to support concentration and mindfulness, the library provides welcoming opportunities to care for your well-being.

Low Sensory Lounge

The Low Sensory Lounge was created through a generous partnership with the Personal Counseling Center to provide a comfortable, low-stimulation environment for students. The lounge is open to all students and offers a welcoming place to decompress, take a break between classes, or find a quieter atmosphere for focused work. It was designed especially with students who may experience anxiety, sensory sensitivities, overstimulation, or stress.

What You’ll Find

The space features soft lighting provided by standing lamps rather than overhead lights, creating a warm and calming atmosphere. Students can choose from a variety of seating options, including comfortable therapy chairs, bean bags, toggle stools, and exercise balls. Relaxation tools such as weighted lap blankets, Himalayan salt lamps, a white noise machine, and an animatronic therapy cat help make the space inviting and restorative.

Location & Access

The Low Sensory Lounge is located on the first floor of Phillips Memorial Library. The space does not require reservations and is available whenever the library is open, ensuring students can access it whenever they need a quiet moment or sensory break.

A Collaborative Commitment to Student Well-Being

The low sensory lounge is made possible through a generous partnership with the Personal Counseling Center. Together, we are committed to creating spaces and services that support the whole student and contribute to a culture of care at Providence College. The Personal Counseling Center also offers a reservable relaxation room available to all students. Learn more on the Personal Counseling Center Relaxation Room page.

Our goal is simple: to provide students with welcoming spaces, meaningful resources, and opportunities to pause, recharge, and thrive.

Wellness Collection

The library’s Wellness Collection offers a variety of items that support relaxation, focus, sensory needs, and creative expression. The collection includes:

  • Board and card games
  • Coloring kits and supplies
  • Visual timers
  • Happy Lights
  • Noise-reducing headphones
  • LiveScribe pens and notebooks
  • Other wellness and sensory-support tools

All items can be borrowed from the library’s front desk with a Providence College ID.
Designed to be accessible and easy to use, the collection encourages students to take mindful breaks, reduce stress, and find tools that work best for their individual learning and wellness needs.

Browse available items at the link below, or ask at the library desk for help finding what is currently available.

Wooden library shelving displaying a variety of games available in the Wellness Collection. Visible titles include Hues and Cues, UNO, Monopoly Deal, Farkle, Gobblet, Rummikub, Connect 4, Codenames XXL, Catan, Forbidden Island, Qwixx, and Chronology, along with card games, puzzles, and a checkerboard. A sign above the shelf reads “Collection.”
Search availability of wellness collection

Relax & Unwind Activities

The library provides a variety of drop-in activities that encourage creativity, connection, and stress relief. These low-pressure opportunities allow students to engage at their own pace and take a break from academic demands.

Regular and rotating activities may include:

  • Puzzle tables
  • LEGO building stations
  • Coloring stations
  • Button making
  • Redacted poetry
  • Bookmark making
  • Holiday card creation
  • Fiber arts and craft projects

Throughout the academic year, the library also hosts special wellness events, including snack carts during high-stress periods, seasonal activities, and creative workshops that help students relax and connect with their peers

Wellness Beyond the Physical Space

The library supports student well-being through digital resources and community partnerships. Curated Community Resource Guides connect students with campus and local services, helping them find support related to accessibility, neurodiversity, student success, and other areas of well-being. These guides provide clear, approachable information and help connect students with expert resources across campus.

1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918 USA
+1.401.865.1000

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