By Dawn Wilson

Finals are swiftly coming up, and that means you’ve spent a lot of time studying this past semester. If you’re a regular of the McGoogan Library of Medicine, this also means you’ve probably spent a lot of time inside the Library.

In order to gauge just how much time you’ve spent in the Library this year, here’s a little quiz. Match the photo to the location.

Submitted by Dawn Wilson

Need a little motivation to get you through all these tests?

Feeling a little lonely and think a study buddy could help?

Don’t trust yourself to study as long and as hard as you need?

These problems are all easily solved! All you need is to adopt a study dragon. Study dragons are extremely supportive; all you have to do is try your hardest. But. (Dun-dun-dun, says the scary music cue.) But, if you do not try your hardest, if you slack off even though you know deep down you should be studying instead of playing that video game, your dragon will know. And because they are carnivorous and breathe fire, the dragon will light you on fire and eat you.

Now, if that’s not motivation, we don’t know what is.

The History of the Study Dragon

Study dragons love being part of the medical sciences field because that’s where they were originally created. Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Kara who had osteosarcoma. (It’s okay, she’s healthy now!) A McGoogan Library staff member named Steven traveled halfway across the globe several times to sit with her in the hospital. Steven was best friends with Kara’s dad, so he went to remain calm and supportive during treatments, and to sit up with Kara all night long so her parents could sleep. When they got bored, they did crafts—and poof! Suddenly they were surrounded by Guardian Dragons.

Kara and Steven made Guardian Dragons during her treatments and gave them away to the other children in the hospital to watch over them.

Steven brought the dragons back to the library. The dragons realized that the health sciences students needed their support, too. Going through school can be difficult, lonely, frustrating, and a plethora of other negative emotions—but it’s all going to be worth it. The study dragons invaded the library to remind you that it’ll all be okay, because there are people who are going to need your help; just keep trying your hardest!

Adopt your dragon (or a sheep) at the Ask Us desk—and do try not to spill condiments on yourself over lunch.

**DISCLAIMER: Library Staff cannot be held responsible for the actions of a study dragon.

Students now have more freedom in the library to scribble, doodle, and notate. Just in time for the start of school, five rolling white boards are ready for student use. The boards stand over four feet high and offer 1900 square inches of writing space.

While the library is assessing its space (you’ll notice all of our books and journals have been compressed to the stacks on 7th floor), these white boards afford flex space opportunities for students to turn exposed carrels and tables into private study spaces.

Three times larger than the boards that used to be available in the study rooms, these new boards are ideal for group study sessions as well.

So go ahead, roll them around to your favorite library nook or cranny. This is one study buddy you can rely on to help keep you organized this year.

By Dawn Wilson