Library hosts NAP to prepare to finals

At Butler CC of El Dorado, The L.W. Nixon Library is hosting Night Against Procrastination tonight and Monday, Dec. 9 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The library has held the event at the end of each semester where they extend their hours, so that students can study for finals.  

The Library Latte NAP exclusive drinks will include Midnight Cola and Berry Starlight. The Midnight Cola is a Coke with brown sugar, cherry and half & half. The Berry Starlight is a dragon fruit lychee refresher with sprite, strawberry, blackberry and half & half.  There will be group and individual study spaces, on-site and virtual research help and complimentary snacks.  

Mariah Ameen is the Access and Outreach Librarian in the L.W. Nixon Library.  

“We give them (students) the space and support to be able to study more effectively and the open social aspect of the event helps them with any stress or anxiety they may be feeling,” Ameen said. “Events like this also help students’ bond with each other and become more likely to reach out in the future either socially or for help.”  

The L.W. Nixon Library staff will also host “Flippin’ For Finals” on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8:30 a.m. on the Andover campus. During the event, patrons can study, play board games from the library’s board game collection or sample NAP exclusive specials at the Library Latte coffee bar.  

The previous Access and Outreach Librarian, Kara Price, was inspired by other libraries holding similar overnight events when she thought of NAP. She inquired what students were in need of, which was ultimately more study time and space together. From there, the event originated into what it is now. Students are responsible for their own productivity at NAP. The library provides the environment for students to study in, but they are ultimately in charge of what they decide to do with their time. During NAP, the library staff and student workers are available if students need assistance with research.  

The Library Latte coffee bar will also be open during NAP, so students can get drinks to help them make it through the night.  

“We will have some complimentary snacks provided by Disability Services and SGA (Student Government Association) will be giving out a few free drink vouchers for the Library Latte,” Ameen said. “We also have our board game shelf and our puzzle table if people want to take a break from studying to destress.” 

Ameen said that the library’s late-night study initiatives have been popular in the past. Students always tell them each semester how excited they are for NAP. At their last NAP event held in the spring, the staff saw over 50 students attend each night. She adds that events like NAP do build a sense of community among students. NAP gives students a place to study, share their anxieties, help each other out and create memories. Once they’ve created that initial connection with each other they become more likely to reach out again, which helps students feel more connected to each other and to the school. For Ameen, she enjoys seeing the connection students are able to create during this event. 

“….try to get out of your head about whatever task it is that you need to accomplish,” Ameen said. “I know that when I went to school here the biggest thing that contributed to my procrastination was the anxiety that I would build up around it. I really wanted to do well, so I would end up making myself more anxious and procrastinate more. Then as a result, I became more disappointed in myself than I would have been if I had just gotten my tasks done in the first place. It’s hard to get out of that cycle once you’re in it, but it really is helpful to find a way to separate yourself from those feelings so that you can get your tasks done.” 

Ameen also offered some strategies for students who attend NAP, so they can be the most productive. 

“It’s also helpful to get any distractions that you use to procrastinate away from you,” Ameen said. “Whenever I had a big paper coming up, I always had to hide all the electronics that I wasn’t using specifically for my paper, away from myself. Even now, my phone is still my biggest distraction when I have something that needs to get done, so I do still have to check myself when I am becoming more dependent on it and make myself put it aside so that I don’t have so much stress later. It’s good to identify what your distractions are and create some boundaries for yourself.”