UNCW Library will host Recharge, a three-day final exam destress event May 3–5, offering relaxation activities, free snacks and wellness experiences to support students during exams. The event is open to students seeking a break, a quiet space or additional support as the semester concludes.

May 3  

The event begins with evening refreshments:

6 PM | Beverage service and snacks (Discovery Hall, MakerStudio, DH1065)

May 4

A full day of activities will be offered across the library:

1-6 PM | Destress Activities (Randall Hall, First floor)

Take part in fun activities, play games, win prizes, and try your luck at the Ultimate Study Break Gift Basket!

1-4 PM | Picture books and Pups with Paws4people (Children's Area, Randall Hall, First floor)

Destress from final exams while enjoying picture books in the calming presence of assistance dogs.

1 PM | Beverage service (Discovery Hall, MakerStudio, DH1065)

2-4 PM | Sweet Trolley Stops (Randall Hall and Discovery Hall)

Look out for the Sweet Trolley! Grab-n-go snacks, motivational stickers, pencils, index cards, and more!

4:30-5:15 PM | Destress with Sound Healing (Randall Hall, RL1045)

Enjoy a guided meditation and immersive sound bath. Explore how music and vibration support balance and relaxation. All supplies provided. No experience needed. 

6 PM | Beverage service and snack drop (Discovery Hall, MakerStudio, DH1065)

May 5  

Programming continues with:

12:30-4 PM | Zen Den (Discovery Hall, Link, First floor)

Take a break and unwind at the Zen Den, where the University Learning Center and Office of Student Wellbeing will host a DIY table to create “stress less study hack packs” with helpful study materials and resources. Enjoy an afternoon of expressive art, mindfulness activities, snacks and community connection designed to support your well-being during exams.

6 PM | Beverage service and snack drop (Discovery Hall, MakerStudio, DH1065)

NOTE: Event details, including activities and locations, are subject to change. Snack and beverage service times may also vary.

The UNCW Library fosters and promotes student success, faculty scholarship and community engagement, providing information resources, learner- and scholar-centered services, and community programming for the campus and greater Southeast North Carolina community in a welcoming and inclusive environment. We aspire to be the intellectual heart of the campus and community.

By designating your gift to UNCW Library during Seahawks Give, you provide critical support for priority resources, services and programs.

Your gift supports funding for:

• Materials and technology for students to freely check out and use
• Research scholarships to support student research and travel
• Public programming, such as author talks, guest speakers and traveling exhibits
• MakerStudio supplies for participants in community and campus workshops
• Digitization of local collections for campus and community use
• Specialized software for student researchers
• Equipment for our MakerStudio, used for fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting) and digital production (podcasting or video production)
• Library resources (books, databases, journals, media)

(James Covial, B.A., 2026, recipient of the Anne Pemberton Award )

Make a Gift to the UNCW Library

Students recognize the impact of your gift:

"The Makerspace has provided some really amazing craft opportunities. Having access to quality tools and materials has made creativity accessible at UNCW!" — Micah Gesualdi, Class of 2029

"The UNCW Library makes it easy for us as students to flourish creatively in such a cool way. The library's 48-hour film challenge is a prime example of the opportunities that become open to us as scholars because of this resource. Being able to rent equipment for free, tackle challenges in a fun way and connect with people you relate to is such a rare and special opportunity that the library grants us as Seahawks!" — Marissa Swindells, Film Studies

"I had the privilege of being a student employee at the UNCW Library MakerStudio for my entire four years as a student at UNCW … Being a student employee, not only did I have the unique opportunity to learn to operate and use cutting-edge technology in creative ways, but I also developed invaluable working skills that I can take with me as I further my career academically and professionally." — Jordan McLeod, B.S., 2025

"I am so grateful for this scholarship … None of my research would've been possible without the incredible support from the UNCW Library." — James Covial, B.A., 2026, recipient of the Anne Pemberton Award

(Jordan McLeod, B.S., 2025)

Make a Gift to the UNCW Library

"Currents of Connection" Opens April 14 at UNCW Library

A student-curated exhibition drawn from the UNCW Library Art Collection will open this month, spotlighting a group of artists connected through their participation in the No Boundaries International Art Residency between 1998 and 2008.

"Currents of Connection: 'No Boundaries' and its Artists, 1998–2008" brings together works that reflect the residency's "art without borders" ethos, highlighting themes of connection among artists, community and nature. Although the works on view were not created at the residency, they serve as a testament to the bonds formed there and the residency's lasting impact on each artist's work.

The exhibition was organized by the inaugural cohort of students in ARH 391, Introduction to Art Museums, under the direction of Dr. Ewa Matyczyk. The No Boundaries residency, now approaching its 30th anniversary, continues to welcome artists each January for two-week sessions.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 14 at UNCW Library, Sherman Hayes Gallery, Randall Hall, first floor. The reception is open to the public.

The exhibition runs April 14 through July 24.

Take a break and reset with our Destress Series, a collection of four wellness experiences designed to help you slow down, recharge, and reconnect. Each session offers a unique, hands-on approach to mindfulness, from painting and sound healing to tea and play. All supplies are provided, and no prior experience is needed. Sessions are held Wednesdays in April, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at UNCW Library, Randall Hall, Retreat at Randall, room RL2016. Registration is required.

Destress sessions:

April 8 | Destress with Mindful Painting
Reset your mind with a relaxing painting experience using rocks, shells, or canvas. All supplies provided. No experience needed. Register

April 15 | Destress with Sound Healing
Enjoy a guided meditation and immersive sound bath. Explore how music and vibration support balance and relaxation. All supplies provided. No experience needed. Register

April 22 | Destress with Mindful Tea
Slow down and savor each sip in a mindful tea experience that builds awareness and connection to the present moment. All supplies provided. No experience needed. Register

April 29 | Destress Through Play: The Gamification of Mindfulness
Reset with a fun, interactive mindfulness game. Experience how play and simple challenges can build awareness and connection. All supplies provided. No experience needed. Register

UNCW Library Names 2026 Anne Pemberton Student Research and Creativity Award Winner

James Covial, a UNCW senior expecting to graduate in May 2026, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Anne Pemberton Student Research and Creativity Award.

Covial's project, "Dream Lounge: A Virtual Listening Experience," is a virtual reality program that allows users to experience music in immersive environments designed to reflect the nature of each song.

His work embodies the mission of the Anne Pemberton Award through a student-centered, practice-based exploration of mindfulness using immersive technology and library-supported research spaces. Covial combined self-directed learning and hands-on experimentation throughout the research process, leveraging the library not only as a source of information but as an active research environment — recruiting participants, gathering feedback and conducting demonstrations in library spaces.

His use of the Visualization and Analysis Lab (DH1072) and Event Space (DH1070) positioned the library as a collaborative research partner and creative laboratory. His project bridges artistic intuition and technical execution while remaining grounded in a concern for mental wellness and student experience.

"I am so humbled and grateful for this scholarship," Covial said. "This started off as an idea with no clue if it was even possible. Through the resources at the library, I was able to turn that dream into a reality. None of my research would have been possible without the incredible support from the UNCW Library. I plan to continue building Dream Lounge until it is ready to be released to the public and on the Steam Marketplace. The long-term dream is continuing to blend the beautiful experience of music with the infinite possibilities of virtual worlds."

Curious about where art materials come from? In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to transform charcoal into your own handmade ink. Guided by Katie M. Knoeringer of the Department of Art & Art History, participants will explore the history and process of carbon-based ink-making while creating a material they can take home and use in their own practice. No prior art experience necessary — just a willingness to get your hands a little dirty!

UNCW Library is accepting student nominations for the Library Student Advisory Board, a group that advises on the library's strategic direction and services. The board meets twice per semester, and students may nominate themselves or a peer by completing the nomination form.

For more details on the board's role and membership, or reach out to Dr. Lucy Holman at holmanl@uncw.edu or Julia Downing at downingj@uncw.edu.

UNCW librarians will host a virtual microsession on Open Educational Resources Tuesday, April 7, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, with an optional Q&A from 1:30 to 1:45 p.m. The session will cover what makes a resource "open," how to find and evaluate OER, and how library materials can support cost-free course options for students. 

Register

Looking to sharpen your language skills before summer travel? The next Lunch and Learning Lab session will feature Mango Languages, a platform offering conversational, bite-sized lessons along with listening and reading activities and cultural context.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch; free snacks will be provided for those joining in person. The session runs from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in Discovery Hall, room DH2097 and online.

Sydney Felmet, multimarket customer success manager for Mango Languages, will facilitate.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to explore legal research tools during an upcoming Lunch and Learning Lab featuring Westlaw Campus Research. The hybrid session will introduce Westlaw, an interdisciplinary platform offering access to legal journals, company and financial data, and state, national and international news sources.

The workshop will be held March 10 from noon to 1 p.m. in Discovery Hall 2097 and on Zoom. Participants are encouraged to bring lunch, and free snacks will be provided for those attending in person. The session will be facilitated by Rachel Cicero, client executive with Thomson Reuters.