Building Belonging: The library supporting a hub for Graduate Research

Start Date

3-18-2026 1:00 PM

End Date

3-18-2026 1:30 PM

Author(s) Bio

Elizabeth Dawson is an Assistant Professor of Library Information and the Science Librarian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is earning her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Arizona University and her interests encompass librarian instruction, instructional library resources, and student belonging in the library. Genova Brookes Boyd is an Assistant Professor of Library Information and Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She works closely with the Student Success Center, Center for Teaching and Learning and the Graduate School. She is the Engagement and Outreach Librarian with experience in designing information literacy curricula, and leading discussions, library workshops, and bibliographic sessions on AI literacy, bias and mis/dis/malinformation. Drake Jesse is an Assistant Professor of Library Science and Instruction Librarian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research interests include academic library spaces and services, and academic libraries as organizations. Drake is a graduate of the Information School at the University of Sheffield.

Keywords

research, design, practice, workshops, belonging

Description of Proposal

Three librarians are working to create the ideal library space for graduate students to achieve their academic goals and connect with other grad students. The Graduate Research Support Hub (GRSH) at UAF Rasmuson Library started with an inspired idea and an examination of how other universities support graduate student research. We wanted to provide a flexible space to meet the distinctive needs of graduate students as they prepare for conference presentations, thesis work, publication, and dissertation defense and serve as a specialized area that is dedicated to graduate students. We surveyed graduate students from a variety of disciplines on campus, and ninety-six percent said they would use a dedicated space for graduate students in the Rasmuson Library. Eighty percent said they would like to use it to practice presentations and defenses, seventy-six percent said they would use it for small and large group meetings, sixty percent said they would get library research support, and forty-four said they would attend specialized workshops. Without a budget, we targeted a room in the library that was holding archival maps that were being moved, and created a proposal for our dean. (We can include a copy of the proposal to participants.) We started thinking about the design of the room and looked for grants to purchase new furniture and technology.

The design of the room is to serve students at the UAF campus and offer a hybrid element to create a connection for our distance graduate students. In the physical room, we have one section of the hub to feature a dedicated presentation area with the needed tools and technologies to allow students to rehearse talks and receive feedback in a professional setting. The opposite side will offer comfortable module seating where students can work and/or collaborate in a relaxing environment, or consult with one another and/or academic librarians. GRSH offers workshops on advanced research methods, citation management, and academic workflow strategies. The space also hosts group meetings relevant to graduate students, and has transitioned to be another reliable space for our Graduate Writing Retreats. Librarians are able to provide one-to-one consultations on dissertation and thesis requirements like formatting, citation, and access to discipline-specific expertise for complex literature reviews and resource discovery.

As part of supporting graduate students, it is vital for GRSH to offer refreshments and recuperation space as it directly supports students’ productivity, focus, and well-being during long study and work sessions, providing the essential energy and preventing hunger distractions, and enabling students to remain engaged with their work. Additionally, having readily available refreshments creates a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that encourages student belonging, promoting longer, more productive visits. This hospitality provides a sense of community and informal social interaction which can reduce stress and increase motivation.

What takeaways will attendees learn from your session?

Graduate students often navigate unique challenges as they prepare for conference presentations, thesis and dissertation work, and publication. This session explores how one library transformed an underused room into a vibrant graduate research hub designed to meet those distinctive needs. Presenters will share how they developed the concept, engaged students in the planning process, and collaborated across campus to design a welcoming, functional space that fosters belonging and scholarly growth. Attendees will gain practical insights into space design, furniture selection, programming, and outreach strategies that strengthen graduate student engagement. Participants will leave with adaptable ideas for creating a library-based hub that connects graduate researchers, supports academic success, and cultivates community.

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Mar 18th, 1:00 PM Mar 18th, 1:30 PM

Building Belonging: The library supporting a hub for Graduate Research

Three librarians are working to create the ideal library space for graduate students to achieve their academic goals and connect with other grad students. The Graduate Research Support Hub (GRSH) at UAF Rasmuson Library started with an inspired idea and an examination of how other universities support graduate student research. We wanted to provide a flexible space to meet the distinctive needs of graduate students as they prepare for conference presentations, thesis work, publication, and dissertation defense and serve as a specialized area that is dedicated to graduate students. We surveyed graduate students from a variety of disciplines on campus, and ninety-six percent said they would use a dedicated space for graduate students in the Rasmuson Library. Eighty percent said they would like to use it to practice presentations and defenses, seventy-six percent said they would use it for small and large group meetings, sixty percent said they would get library research support, and forty-four said they would attend specialized workshops. Without a budget, we targeted a room in the library that was holding archival maps that were being moved, and created a proposal for our dean. (We can include a copy of the proposal to participants.) We started thinking about the design of the room and looked for grants to purchase new furniture and technology.

The design of the room is to serve students at the UAF campus and offer a hybrid element to create a connection for our distance graduate students. In the physical room, we have one section of the hub to feature a dedicated presentation area with the needed tools and technologies to allow students to rehearse talks and receive feedback in a professional setting. The opposite side will offer comfortable module seating where students can work and/or collaborate in a relaxing environment, or consult with one another and/or academic librarians. GRSH offers workshops on advanced research methods, citation management, and academic workflow strategies. The space also hosts group meetings relevant to graduate students, and has transitioned to be another reliable space for our Graduate Writing Retreats. Librarians are able to provide one-to-one consultations on dissertation and thesis requirements like formatting, citation, and access to discipline-specific expertise for complex literature reviews and resource discovery.

As part of supporting graduate students, it is vital for GRSH to offer refreshments and recuperation space as it directly supports students’ productivity, focus, and well-being during long study and work sessions, providing the essential energy and preventing hunger distractions, and enabling students to remain engaged with their work. Additionally, having readily available refreshments creates a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that encourages student belonging, promoting longer, more productive visits. This hospitality provides a sense of community and informal social interaction which can reduce stress and increase motivation.