Life-Loving Libraries: Creating Restorative Spaces Through Biophilic Design Principles, AKA The Great Turtle Project.

This article explores the concept of biophilic design in libraries and its potential to create restorative spaces. It discusses the emotional connection between humans and other living organisms, known as biophilia, and suggests that incorporating biophilic design principles can transform the library into a source of healing. The article presents the Great Turtle Project as an example of a biophilic intervention in a library, where a turtle named Eve was introduced to create a more natural and engaging environment for students. The presence of Eve has had a positive impact on student engagement and mental health, with students and faculty visiting the library for "turtle therapy" and experiencing reduced anxiety. The article concludes by emphasizing the potential benefits of implementing health-promoting and restorative environmental design strategies, such as the presence of animals, in university libraries. [Extracted from the article]