Connecting Students to Support: The Help Yourself Campaign's Role in Holistic Student Wellness and Resource Awareness at the University of North Texas Libraries

Short Description

Students can face many challenges and situations while in college. Unfortunately, students are often unaware of all the campus resources available to them, as well as how the library fits into these care networks. The Help Yourself Campaign (HYC) aims to bridge the gap between students and student support offices.

Abstract

Students can face many challenges and situations while in college. Unfortunately, students are often unaware of all the campus resources available to them, as well as how the library fits into these care networks. This is especially true for large campuses, such as the University of North Texas. The Help Yourself Campaign (HYC) aims to bridge the gap between students and student support offices.

HYC includes 17 topics ranging from adjusting to college, financial literacy, food and housing insecurity, substance abuse, and sexual assault. It combines intentional collection development, online resource management, strategic marketing, student outreach, and campus outreach to develop a network for students seeking care for themselves. HYC collections are used in information-seeking, deeper self-guided education, and bibliotherapy with campus care professionals.

The presentation will provide attendees with a framework for how to

1. Build and market print and digital holistic care collections,
2. Develop relationship-based collections with campus partners,
3. Use Whole-Person Librarianship, Whole-University/Whole-Campus, and Trauma-Informed Librarianship model,
4. Engage students from social work and human service disciplines in service learning, and
5. Navigating challenges imposed by restrictive state laws