More Than Four Walls: The Influence of the Library Space on Student Wellbeing

Academic libraries are often framed as quiet repositories of knowledge, but their influence runs deeper. As student mental health concerns intensify, these spaces are emerging as critical environments for connection, comfort, and care. Beyond books and databases, the design, atmosphere, and activities of a library can shape how students feel, cope, and belong within the wider university experience.

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AI Services at the UM Library: What Do You Need?

Students are already using Artificial Intelligence, so what should libraries do about it? Drawing on research and observation at the University of Malta Library, this intern-led article investigates how students actually use AI, and whether library services are keeping pace. It ultimately reframes the conversation: not what libraries can build, but what users truly need.

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Chaotic Order: Victor Pasmore’s Abstract Art Keeps Beating

And like that, you, dear reader, and I – together, we fall into the rabbit hole of abstract art. From order to chaos. Down, down, down. ‘“I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth.”’

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Beyond Books: The UM Library as a Hub for Connection

In a time when academic life can feel overwhelmingly digital and impersonal, libraries are trying to step up to create something invaluable – a community. University libraries, which used to be primarily quiet spaces with towering bookshelves, are now reinventing themselves as inclusive ‘third places’. The University of Malta Library interns offer THINK an insight into how the Library is becoming a third place on Campus.

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Preserving the Past: UM Library’s Digitisation of Centuries-old Pamphlets

The University of Malta’s Library has diligently digitised historical pamphlets, some dating as far back as the 1600s, allowing students and researchers to explore battles, cultural shifts, and more through primary sources. THINK speaks with library manager Antida Mizzi to explore the commitment to safeguarding history, making it accessible for researchers and scholars dedicated to unearthing the stories that define us.

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Fostering Creativity and Community: The ART Connect Project at the University of Malta Library

Discover how the University of Malta Library is not just a repository of knowledge, but a hub of creativity and collaboration. The ART Connect Project infuses art into this academic space, bringing vibrancy and engagement to its community. In this article, delve into the initiative’s aspirations, the fostering of a holistic environment, and the transformative power of artistic expression within the university setting.

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Moving energetically ahead

UM's solar panels

Can the university lead the way in shedding a dependence on fossil fuels? Renewable sources cover just over 7% of Malta’s energy needs, which must nearly double by 2030 to implement the draft National Energy and Climate Plan. Daiva Repeckaite traces how photovoltaic modules were rolled out on the campus’s roofs — and finds that to be sustainable, the community should love their ACs a little less.

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