R&L Yoga and Meditation at the Library: A Practical Guide for Librarians: 64

Yoga and meditation have a proven track record of lowering stress levels, helping to treat mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, building community, and contributing to an overall sense of wellbeing in their practitioners. According to recent surveys, 1/4 of North American libraries have offered meditation programs and 2/3 have offered yoga classes. Carson, a professional yoga teacher and library director, has been leading yoga and meditation programs in schools and libraries for over a decade, and she presents this guidebook to give others the tools for serving library patrons of all ages and abilities. Inside Yoga and Meditation at the Library, you will find 21 program models, including choreographed yoga sequences complete with pictures, passive program ideas, alternative collections suggestions, budget considerations, literacy tie-ins, and checklists for prep, teardown, and follow-up, as well as advice from real-world program delivery. Chapters include: ·What are Mindfulness and Meditation? ·What is Yoga? ·Implementing Yoga and Meditation Programs in Your Library ·Choosing Resources and Designing Spaces ·Passive Programs and Alternative Collections ·Policies and Procedures for Avoiding and Handling Problems ·Yoga and Meditation for the Early Years ·Yoga and Meditation for Elementary-Age Students ·Yoga and Meditation for Teens and Young Adults ·Yoga and Meditation for Adults and Seniors ·Yoga for Every Body: Inclusive Programming through Outreach and Inreach This book is for any programming librarian, administrator, yoga and meditation teacher, or outreach coordinator looking to boost circulation stats, program numbers, literacy rates, and foster health and wellness in their community. Review Wellness programs are increasingly popular in public libraries, but questions of cost and liability cause many librarians to hesitate. Carson's (Get Your Community Moving, 2018) exceptionally practical guide covers all of that--equipment costs and suggested vendors, tips for finding a good instructor, insurance waivers, and how to address concerns about religion and dress codes. But it's not all worst-case-scenarios. She also presents program models for different age groups, from babies to seniors. These, too, are useful, starting with what needs to be done ahead of time and the day of, an agenda for the program itself, and suggestions of related books to add to both the circulating and professional development collections. Carson is both a yoga instructor and a library director, and she clearly writes from experience. An excellent resource for library staff who plan programs for all ages. -- Susan Maguire--Booklist Jenn Carson clearly and engagingly explains how and why to integrate yoga and meditation into your library's spaces, programs, and collections. Interest in how to serve the whole person, including mental and physical health needs, has never been higher. This book contains the practical information you need to make a difference.--Noah Lenstra, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro About the Author Jenn Carson is an internationally recognized expert in physical literacy, a professional yoga teacher and the director of the L.P. Fisher Public Library in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. She is the author of Get Your Community Moving: Physical Literacy Programs for All Ages (ALA Editions, 2018). She also blogs about her physical literacy adventures for Programming Librarian (www.programminglibrarian.com). You can find out more about her programs and research at www.jenncarson.com.