On a campus where study spaces are often most accommodating for students who can drop everything and focus in silence, the University’s Main Library’s Family Study Room offers something different. 

Within the Main Library’s Orange Room, the Family Study Room gives students with children, or students in caretaking roles, a place to work without having to choose between being present for their kids or keeping up academically.

Nearly one in five graduate students are raising children while enrolled in classes, and they need resources to succeed in the classroom and at home. 

Maria Emerson, a student success librarian at the University, who helped bring the room to life through planning and advocacy, ensured the space is welcoming for the children and the adults supporting them.

Emerson has worked to build the Family Study Room since the beginning of Fall 2022 and has advocated for the room’s growth over the last four years. 

“The room is for anyone, and it is a way to help students understand that, just because you might have kids with you, doesn’t mean you also aren’t welcome in the library,” Emerson said. 

The Family Study Room has space for adults to study while also offering an array of toys and activities for children of all ages. Additional supplemental learning packs for older children can also be checked out at the library desk.

“We have a train table and a kitchen set, and we have packs to check out that come with different activities in them that kids can play with that are geared towards their age range,” Emerson said. 

The room’s expansion has been driven by Emerson’s initiative and sustained community outreach. Much of the support has been made possible through alumni and community members who donate funds and purchase items specifically intended for the space.

Emerson said the Main Library reached out through its network of supporters and newsletters to highlight needs, allowing donors to contribute toys, furniture and other resources to make the room more welcoming for families.

Community and alumni investment has helped the space expand beyond its original setup and reflects a growing recognition of student-parent needs.

Emerson also made it clear that noise is permitted in the room and that reservations are not required to ensure it remains a stress reliever for these families. Emerson, along with many staff members on campus, aims to provide adequate resources for student parents.

Among these staff members is Graduate College Wellbeing and Community Coordinator, Andrea Bridges, who praises the Main Library’s Family Study Room and its purpose.

“It’s just a really helpful, practical way to make things a little bit easier when you’re balancing a bunch of responsibilities,” Bridges said. 

While student parents are a niche population, Bridges says they face significant scrutiny and common misconceptions. 

“I think a big misconception is that people with children aren’t serious about their academic work,” Bridges said.

Whitney Welsh, director of family and graduate housing, referenced student parents in a similar vein to that discussed by Bridges. 

“It’s a specialized population that is often overlooked,” Welsh said. “They have much more to think about than the traditional student.”

Welsh also emphasizes that housing stability, resources like the Main Library and other campus partnerships help student-parents succeed. 

“I want to help provide a stable environment for students with children, and I hope these resources help them fulfill their academic responsibilities,” Welsh said. “Because they’re not just a student; they have so much more going on than people think about.”

Across campus, staff have one simple yet meaningful message: Student-parents belong here. 

“We always want student-parents to know that they are welcome here,” Welsh said. “We’re committed to supporting them and their family throughout their time here.”

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