Nahum Gelber Law Library staff is looking forward to welcoming students back this fall with clean views via some freshly washed windows.

The Law Library is privileged to boast an abundance of natural light, although in recent years our impressive fenestrations have become a little cloudy. Studies have shown that natural light improves both productivity and mental health(1) – both of which are top priorities for library staff in serving McGill Law Students.

We are looking to the future with hopeful anticipation of study spaces filled with engaged students enjoying our beautiful library with some of the cleanest views we’ve seen in years.

(1) The effects of exposure to natural light in the workplace on the health and productivity of office workers: a systematic review protocol, JBI Library of Systematic Reviews: Volume 8 – Issue 16 – p 1-19

The members of the Law Library would like to congratulate Sonia Smith, Liaison Librarian and Mila Bozic Erkic, Senior Circulation Clerk of the Nahum Gelber Law Library on winning the Canadian Law Library Review Feature Article Award for their article “Does a Wellness Collection Have a Place at a Law Library?”.

The CLLR award is presented annually by The Canadian Association of Law Libraries / L’Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit (CALL/ACBD), to the author of a feature length article published in Canadian Law Library Review / Revue canadienne des bibliothèques de droit to recognize outstanding contributions to the association and the profession of Law Librarianship.

Sonia and Mila’s forward thinking “Wellness Collection” and subsequent article, have been a huge success with students. This project started in 2018 in response to several studies discussing the particularly high rate of stress and mental health issues among law students. The authors had no idea what a vital resource this would become during the widespread mental health crisis that students would face during the 2020/2021 pandemic. While in person, students were able to relax by taking advantage of a “de-stress corner” where they could take a much needed break from rigorous academic pursuits. Over the past year students have benefited from the thoughtfully curated Wellness Resources for Law Students Libguide. Now more than ever we appreciate Sonia and Mila’s hard work and dedication to McGill Law students.

Merci et félicitations, Sonia et Mila!