by Joshua Nauert
Rochester Christian University’s librarians have created a plant Study Buddy
program and a Plant Propagation Station to create community and encourage self-care.
Allison Jimenez, director of library services; Abby Koet, electronic resources
librarian, and Jillian Beckwell, instructional design librarian, said they were inspired by
innovative programs provided by public libraries, so they brainstormed on
what they could do at RCU.
First, the librarians introduced Study Buddies this fall, which are small succulents
that students are able to grab to study with at the library. “We noticed students began to grow attached to some of the Buddies, taking them with them to class and returning each day for the same plant," Jimenez said.
Since the Study Buddies have to stay in the library, Jimenez and her team
decided to also start a Plant Propagation Station, where new houseplants and
succulents can be grown from existing plants. Then people can grow plants in
their offices, dorms and classrooms.
Members of the RCU community can take an existing plant and use it
to create a new one. The community has donated their own plants, such as one that's been in Dr. Jessica Matyas' family for four generations.
“I call this little guy 'the ancestral cactus.' My great-grandmother had one that she propagated for her daughter (my grandma). My grandma then propagated a piece for her daughter (my mom). And my mom then propagated a piece for me. Mine started with only three little leaves, and now it has bloomed into a large pot full of flowers,” said Matyas, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Department of Psychology.
Jimenez encourages other members of the community to share plants. “We would love to see members of our community keep our plant propagation station thriving by continually leaving and taking plant cuttings. We would also love to see some new plants or even the cuttings of plants grown from the PPS. We would also like to host some events or programs in the future with the Plant Propagation Station—plant swaps, donation days and more!” Jimenez said.
The librarians said they also want students to learn to focus on self-care when
they are taking care of plants. “If we provide students the opportunity to care for a plant,
would that encourage them to invest in themselves?” Jimenez said.
The Plant Propagation Station service helps to bring the RCU community together “as plant clippings are donated and shared amongst everyone. We are also able to teach science, ecology, plant propagation and sustainable habits to our students. We hope that having to care for something will serve as a reminder to also take care of oneself," Jimenez said.
In addition to the Study Buddies and Plant Propagation Station, the librarians
have created other events for students, including Speed Friending, craft tables and
Exam Cram. These events are meant to help with stress relief, social activities and
more, Jimenez said.
The librarians are so excited about these new efforts that they are presenting
their ideas at an upcoming conference. They will present "Plant-care & Self-care:
Creating & Promoting A Plant Propagation Station" at the Michigan Academic Library
Association in May.
Anyone in the RCU community is welcome to participate in the Plant Propagation Station or to use a Study Buddy by dropping by the Ham Library.
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