Struggling to stay focused while studying? The Neuro-inclusive Library Study Club at King’s is a focused environment in the Maughan Library where you can study with other students in silence, set goals, and take breaks as a group.
Designed with neuro-diverse students in mind, the sessions use a technique called “body-doubling” to help students stay motivated and accountable. You can book your spot at the Study Club via King's Edge.
We spoke with session facilitator Molly Brown to find out more about how the Study Club works and why you should attend.
What is the Neuro-inclusive Library Study Club and who is it for?
"The Neuro-inclusive Library Study Club is an event that was born from feedback from King’s students. It currently takes place once a month. We book a small room in the Maughan Library that has space for around 12 students to come and study together in silence for a couple of hours. It is structured into study periods and break periods, and it’s run by two of our librarians who remain in the room and do some work themselves on their laptops."
How do the sessions support neuro-diverse students?
"It’s for students who find they concentrate best when other people are around them doing the same thing within a finite period of time, as it helps hold them accountable to reach an explicit goal before that time is up (whether that’s ‘read two chapters’ or ‘finish 500 words of my essay’, etc). This is known as ‘body-doubling’ and can be a useful tool for people with ADHD or anxiety, among others.
It’s also got built-in break periods, where students can stay in the room and socialise with others, so it builds on the potential for creating communities with like-minded peers. It can be a challenge to do that at university, especially nowadays where some in-person elements of university life have been replaced with remote, online versions: it can be a struggle for anyone to make connections.
These study clubs are for anyone who wants to try them out."
What happens during a typical session?
"Students arrive, settle in, and one of our friendly librarians give a 10-minute talk about how the timings will work, and ask if anyone wants to share their study goal for the day (you don’t have to, but a lot of people find it helps them stick to it).
Everyone spends 45 minutes silently studying. They can listen to music on headphones, just making sure the sound doesn’t carry. One of our librarians will announce a 15-minute break, during which people can chat or leave the room for some fresh air or a comfort break, whatever they choose.
When that’s over, people return for the second 45-minute silent study period. At the end, one of our librarians will announce that it’s finished, and students will be invited to share whether they achieved their study goal. Or they can just leave. The only thing that’s expected of anyone is that they stick to timings, and study silently when required to do so."
What would you say to students who are thinking about coming along?
"It’s best to sign up first via King’s Edge app or on LibCal, so that you’re guaranteed a place. Sometimes we have to turn students away if we’re already full and they haven’t signed up in advance. Hopefully in the future we’ll be able to use a bigger room, so that we can welcome in more students for each event!
Oh, and there’s always free tea, coffee and biscuits at study club, which goes down well!"