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Believe it or not, a simple and accessible stress-busting strategy already exists: coloring.

The Case for Coloring

While most of us enjoyed (or at least, participated in) coloring as kids, not many of us have had an excuse to break out the crayon box since—until recently. Adult coloring as a trend has taken off since the mid-2010s, with many sources citing the publication of the Secret Garden coloring book by Johanna Basford in 2013 as a catalyst. Since then, many libraries have capitalized on the trend by offering coloring clubs and events for adults (Roy & Edwards, 2025; Blackburn & Chamley, 2016). These events have been very successful, with participants noting that they color to relieve stress or anxiety, unplug from technology, or as a form of socialization.

Why Coloring Works

Studies have shown that—even more than reading or even drawing—coloring boosts mood, mindfulness, and emotional regulation while also reducing anxiety (Holt et al., 2019; Turturro & Drake, 2022). Researchers have theorized that coloring, especially coloring repetitive patterns such as mandalas, promotes flow, or a positive state of mind in which an individual is fully absorbed with a focused task in front of them (Flicker et al., 2025). Coloring helps refocus the mind away from stressful thoughts of exams into a positive, creative mindset. This allows students to recenter, regroup, and cope better with the stressful finals period.

Come Color with Us

South College Library wants to help you de-stress this finals period by offering a variety of relaxing coloring sheets and colored pencils in each of its campus Resource Centers. Coloring supplies will be available December 12–18. We invite you to take a break from studying to Color and be Calm with us!

Get the Coloring Sheets

Can't make it to a library or resource center this week? No worries! Click an image below to download the corresponding coloring sheet. Print it out and color your stress away at home.

Library Resources

Still stressed out? Check out these library resources below on ways to reduce your stress through mindfulness and meditation.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction by Susan L. Woods; Patricia Rockman; Diane Reibel (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2021

Whether you work in health care, the mental health field, social work, or education, this manual offers clear direction and a sound framework for practicing MBSR in any setting. You'll gain an understanding of the underlying principles of mindfulness, learn to establish your own personal practice, and discover how you can embody that practice. You'll also find tips to help you guide meditations, engage in inquiry, and to convey the content of the program to others. If you're looking for a clear protocol and curriculum for delivering MBSR, this book has everything you need to get started today.

Stress Management Through Mind Engineering by R. P. Banerjee
Publication Date: 2022

Stress Management through Mind Engineering takes the readers through the process of mind engineering to help them create a stressless mind. A mind that can bear the force of the external environment by tapping the power within. Read this book to not only win over stress but also eliminate the risk of burnouts, understand the cause of high stress, reflect on one's actions and behavior and ultimately live a happier, healthier life.

Distress Tolerance Made Easy by Sheri Van Dijk; Matthew McKay; Jeffrey C. Wood
Publication Date: 2023

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a proven-effective and evidence-based treatment that can help you find balance and improve your ability to handle adversity without losing control and acting destructively. This potent and portable guide focuses on one of the core skills of DBT: distress tolerance. With Distress Tolerance Made Easy, you'll learn tons of tips and tricks to help you keep your cool—even when emotional triggers strike.

Sources

Blackburn, H. & Chamley, C. E. (2016). Color Me Calm: Adult coloring and the university library. Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings, 6(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.4148/2160-942X.1053

Flicker, S. M., Sancier-Barbosa, F., Tang, A. N., Ho, A., Zhong, S., Alafranji, R. R., & Clemons-Castanos, C. R. (2025). Mechanisms of anxiety reduction during adult coloring: Mindfulness, flow, enjoyment, and distraction. Mindfulness, 16(6), 1693–1704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02586-9

Holt, N. J., Furbert, L. & Sweetingham, E. (2019). Cognitive and affective benefits of coloring: Two randomized controlled crossover studies. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 36(4), 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2019.1645498

Roy, A. & Edwards, B. F. R. (April 29, 2025). The Ol’ Medical Coloring Book: Reducing student stress through playful library outreach. The Journal of Creative Library Practice. Retrieved from: https://creativelibrarypractice.org/2025/04/29/the-ol-medical-colouring-book/

Turturro, N., & Drake, J. E. (2022). Does coloring reduce anxiety? Comparing the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring versus drawing. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 40(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237420923290

Recent Posts

South College Library Presents Color and Calm

Finals period is a stressful time in the life of students. Looming deadlines, late-night study sessions, and fear of failure can create anxiety, loss of sleep, and potentially even impact student performance on final exams and papers. Students need healthy outlets and productive coping mechanisms for stress and in order to perform their academic best. Believe it or not, a simple and accessible stress-busting strategy already exists: coloring. The Case for Coloring While most of us enjoyed (or at least, participated in) coloring as kids, not many of us have had an excuse to break out the crayon box since—until recently. Adult coloring as a trend has taken off since the mid-2010s, with many sources citing the publication of the Secret Garden coloring book by Johanna Basford in 2013 as a catalyst. Since then, many libraries have capitalized on the trend by offering coloring clubs and events for adults (Roy & Edwards, 2025; Blackburn & Chamley, 2016). These events have been very successful, with participants noting that they color to relieve stress or anxiety, unplug from technology, or as a form of socialization. Why Coloring Works Studies have shown that—even more than reading or even drawing—coloring boosts mood, mindfulness, and emotional regulation while also reducing anxiety (Holt et al., 2019; Turturro & Drake, 2022). Researchers have theorized that coloring, especially coloring repetitive patterns such as mandalas, promotes flow, or a positive state of mind in which an individual is fully absorbed with a focused task in front of them (Flicker et al., 2025). Coloring helps refocus the mind away from stressful thoughts of exams into a positive, creative mindset. This allows students to recenter, regroup, and cope better with the stressful finals period. Come Color with Us South College Library wants to help you de-stress this finals period by offering a variety of relaxing coloring sheets and colored pencils in each of its campus Resource Centers. Coloring supplies will be available December 12–18. We invite you to take a break from studying to Color and be Calm with us!Get the Coloring SheetsCan't make it to a library or resource center this week? No worries! Click an image below to download the corresponding coloring sheet. Print it out and color your stress away at home.Library ResourcesStill stressed out? Check out these library resources below on ways to reduce your stress through mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction by Susan L. Woods; Patricia Rockman; Diane Reibel (Foreword by) Publication Date: 2021Whether you work in health care, the mental health field, social work, or education, this manual offers clear direction and a sound framework for practicing MBSR in any setting. You'll gain an understanding of the underlying principles of mindfulness, learn to establish your own personal practice, and discover how you can embody that practice. You'll also find tips to help you guide meditations, engage in inquiry, and to convey the content of the program to others. If you're looking for a clear protocol and curriculum for delivering MBSR, this book has everything you need to get started today. Stress Management Through Mind Engineering by R. P. Banerjee Publication Date: 2022Stress Management through Mind Engineering takes the readers through the process of mind engineering to help them create a stressless mind. A mind that can bear the force of the external environment by tapping the power within. Read this book to not only win over stress but also eliminate the risk of burnouts, understand the cause of high stress, reflect on one's actions and behavior and ultimately live a happier, healthier life. Distress Tolerance Made Easy by Sheri Van Dijk; Matthew McKay; Jeffrey C. Wood Publication Date: 2023Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a proven-effective and evidence-based treatment that can help you find balance and improve your ability to handle adversity without losing control and acting destructively. This potent and portable guide focuses on one of the core skills of DBT: distress tolerance. With Distress Tolerance Made Easy, you'll learn tons of tips and tricks to help you keep your cool—even when emotional triggers strike.SourcesBlackburn, H. & Chamley, C. E. (2016). Color Me Calm: Adult coloring and the university library. Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings, 6(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.4148/2160-942X.1053 Flicker, S. M., Sancier-Barbosa, F., Tang, A. N., Ho, A., Zhong, S., Alafranji, R. R., & Clemons-Castanos, C. R. (2025). Mechanisms of anxiety reduction during adult coloring: Mindfulness, flow, enjoyment, and distraction. Mindfulness, 16(6), 1693–1704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02586-9 Holt, N. J., Furbert, L. & Sweetingham, E. (2019). Cognitive and affective benefits of coloring: Two randomized controlled crossover studies. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 36(4), 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2019.1645498 Roy, A. & Edwards, B. F. R. (April 29, 2025). The Ol’ Medical Coloring Book: Reducing student stress through playful library outreach. The Journal of Creative Library Practice. Retrieved from: https://creativelibrarypractice.org/2025/04/29/the-ol-medical-colouring-book/ Turturro, N., & Drake, J. E. (2022). Does coloring reduce anxiety? Comparing the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring versus drawing. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 40(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237420923290 ...

Meet Your Library Staff: Chris Byrns

Chris Byrns is the Associate Director of Library Services, based at Knoxville's Parkside Library. He has been with South College since March 2025. Name the question you get asked the most and share your go-to solution. Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of APA citation questions. My go-to solution is the APA 7th Edition guide on the South College Library website. When it comes to APA, you’d be hard pressed to find a more user-friendly or better sourced guide. Point to one resource you wish students would utilize more and why it matters. I wish more students took advantage of the tutorials on the library website. A lot of work has gone into creating these short, 2–3 minute videos, and they’re packed with useful information. Since all South College programs require library engagement, and research-intensive programs even more so, learning how to make the most of these resources is an investment that always pays off. What’s one behind-the-scenes task that, if skipped, students would feel tomorrow? I help coordinate room reservations at the Parkside Library. Between testing and studying, demand is high. Without this mediation, students would struggle to secure quiet study areas or rooms needed for makeup and accommodations testing. What inspired you to seek out a job in libraries? Like many librarians, my path wasn’t direct. I originally planned to be an educator but couldn’t secure a position right after graduation. Since I had worked at John C. Hodges Library while at UT-Knoxville, I found a job at Lawson McGhee Library in Knoxville, which I thought would be a placeholder. I ended up loving it and decided to stay. What I enjoy most about being a librarian is the variety of people you meet and tasks to complete. People think they know what librarians do, but the scope is much broader than they realize. The only real throughline is that librarians help people solve problems. If you could recommend one book that everyone should read, what would it be? After 12 years as a public librarian, I developed a deep appreciation for picture books. They’re far more impactful than most people realize. My favorite is Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, about a girl who transforms her cold, dreary town with a magical box of yarn. But the one I think everyone should read is The Fate of Fausto by Oliver Jeffers, a powerful story about the pitfalls of greed. What’s the movie you’re watching every Christmas? My family really leans into the holidays with activities and movies every year. If I had to pick one, it’s Home Alone. As a 90s kid, I was the target audience when it first came out, and now watching it with my children is a highlight of the season. It’s a fun reminder that family, even when they are the worst, are actually the best. Honorable mention goes to the 1964 stop-motion Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. As a bearded redhead, I’ve always had a soft spot for Yukon Cornelius....

November's Featured Ebooks: Comfort Food

Did you know that the South College Library provides students, faculty, and staff access to over 100,000 ebooks? The changing foliage, cooler temperatures, and fall holidays energize many people to cook, bake, and share their favorite dishes with family and friends. Enjoy this collection of recipe books from cultures around the world and get inspiration for your latest culinary creation!Comfort Food A Domestic Cook Book by Malinda Russell Publication Date: 2025A Domestic Cook Book (1866) by Malinda Russell is the oldest known published cookbook written by an African American woman. This book contains 260 recipes and household tips that draw from Malinda Russell's twenty years of experience cooking in Southern kitchens, her boarding house, and her pastry shop, and showcase her skills as a pastry chef. This new edition includes a foreword by scholar Rafia Zafar as well as an introduction by the late food historian Janice Bluestein Longone that contextualize Russell's cookbook. The Mexican Chile Pepper Cookbook by Dave DeWitt; José C. Marmolejo Publication Date: 2022The Mexican Chile Pepper Cookbook is the first book to explore the glories of Mexican regional cooking by focusing on this single, but endlessly variable, ingredient. Authors Dave DeWitt and José C. Marmolejo feature more than 150 recipes that celebrate the role of chiles across appetizers, soups and stews, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, moles, and vegetarian dishes. Comprehensive glossaries of Mexican chiles, cheeses, and food terminology are also included. Savor the history, culture, and recipes of Mexican regional home cooking highlighted in this unique, full-color cookbook and explore the various chile peppers showcased in this spicy trek south of the border. Sephardi by Hélène Jawhara Piñer Publication Date: 2021In this extraordinary cookbook, chef and scholar Hélène Jawhara-Piñer combines rich culinary history and Jewish heritage to serve up over 50 culturally significant recipes. Steeped in the history of the Sephardic Jews (Jews of Spain) and their diaspora, these recipes are expertly collected from such diverse sources as medieval cookbooks, Inquisition trials, medical treatises, poems, and literature. Each creation and bite of the dishes herein are guaranteed to transport the reader to the most deeply moving and intriguing aspects of Jewish history. Jawhara-Piñer reminds us that eating is a way to commemorate the past. Eating with the Tudors by Brigitte Webster Publication Date: 2023An extensive collection of authentic Tudor recipes that tell the story of a dramatically changing world in 16th-century England. Eating with the Tudors highlights how religion, reformation and politics influenced what was served on a Tudor's dining table from the very beginning of Henry VII's reign to the final days of Elizabeth I's rule—and features recipes from suckling pigs to pax cakes. Spice up your culinary habits and step back in time to recreate a true Tudor feast by impressing your guests the Tudor way or prepare a New Year's culinary gift fit for a Tudor monarch. Kitchen Arabic by Joseph Geha Publication Date: 2023As much a memoir as a cookbook, Kitchen Arabic illustrates the journey of author Joseph Geha’s early years in America and his family's struggle to learn the language and ways of a new world. A compilation of family recipes and of the stories that came with them, it deftly blends culture with cuisine. With this book, Geha shares how the food of his heritage sustained his family throughout that cultural journey, speaking to them—in a language that needs no translation—of joy and comfort and love. Eating Wild Japan by Winifred Bird; Paul Poynter (Illustrator) Publication Date: 2021A delicious collection of essays, recipes, and practical plant information exploring Japan's thriving culture of foraged foods. From bracken to butterbur to'princess'bamboo, some of Japan's most iconic foods are foraged, not grown, in its forests, fields, and coastal waters—yet most Westerners have never heard of them. In this book, journalist Winifred Bird eats her way from one end of the country to the other in search of the hidden stories of Japan's wild foods, the people who pick them, and the places whose histories they've shaped. You can find these and more through the South College Library’s digital collection on the library website. ...

Announcing the Winner of the Name the Skull Contest

Thank you to everyone who participated in last month's Name the Skull Contest. We had over 450 entries and tons of creative names to choose from. After careful thought and heated debate, the staff of South College Library has selected the winning name: O'Skullivan.Introducing… O'Skullivan!The winning name was suggested by CBE Doctor of Education student Joshua Anderson. Joshua will receive a $10 Amazon gift card as a reward. Congratulations, Joshua!Stay tuned for more exciting events and contests sponsored by the South College Library....