We are excited to unveil a new dedicated bookable pod for new mothers to breastfeed and express milk. Not everyone is comfortable feeding their baby or expressing milk in public, so we have introduced bookable breastfeeding pods in the Library and Richmond building exclusively to support new mothers.

For some people, crowds and noisy spaces are the stuff of nightmares.  If this sounds like you, there are some simple ways to get the books you need, use the library, ask questions when you need to, avoid all the noise and bustle, and find a place to work quietly without distractions.  Simply follow these simple tips…

Southsea Sangha, a vibrant community dedicated to Buddhist Meditation and Community Practice, is thrilled to announce its 10 year anniversary celebration. If you need a chance to chill and have an interest in meditation or are curious about meditation practices, reserve your spot and join the birthday celebrations from 6-9 pm on 2 June at Offbeet Café, Albert Road.

<small><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42839495@N07/14419270500" target="_blank">craftivist collective</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/" target="_blank" title="Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License"><img src="https://liblog.port.ac.uk/blog/wp-content/plugins/wp-inject/images/cc.png" /></a><i></small>

It’s the busiest time in the University academic year and for some of you, it may be getting a little too noisy for comfort. Happily, if you are finding the bustle and noise a little much, help is at hand.

Losing yourself in a book can have a profound impact on body and mind, akin to entering an altered state of consciousness. The effect is rapid, too. After reading for just six minutes, the average person’s stress levels fall by two-thirds as the mind is taken away from its habitual thoughts and the body relaxes. Reading works can relax you even faster than listening to music.

Working early or late has some benefits – there’s always space to spread out, it’s quieter, so you can concentrate without distractions, and it’s a good time to wander over to the Library and get stuck into some serious study. Yet, you need to stay hydrated and fed even when you’ve exhausted your snack box and the local coffee shops have closed (or not yet opened). Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Christmas can be an exciting time for some but a trying time for others. Whether you are wondering how to keep yourself entertained in Portsmouth over the holidays or facing a return home you would rather forego, entertainments, help and advice are all on hand. Whatever you need, there is something or someone who can help.

Libraries are a staple of the university experience. They make conducting research, writing essays, and revising for exams so much easier, but they can also provide benefits outside of academia. Being a student isn’t always easy, and when things get tough, libraries can be incredible sources of support.

In this guest blog post, we explore the various ways libraries can help sustain your mental health.

Looking after ourselves means taking time to care for bodies and minds together. It doesn’t matter what you read or what exercise you do, only that you enjoy what you are doing. As I was once told, “life is not a rehearsal”, so make the most of your time. Enjoy every moment you can, and if you can’t, see if there is anything obvious you can do to make life better.