A new initiative called Active Bodies, Active Minds has been in the works at Drake Memorial Library for about a year. On April 8, that vision took a major step forward with the debut of the MoveSmart Corner.

This event introduced brand new equipment designed to help students stay active while studying, a way to get moving while also getting work done at the same time.

SUNY Brockport Research and Instruction Librarian Jennifer Kegler is one of the leading forces behind the innovation of the MoveSmart program.

“We started talking about it probably a year ago, me and the Library Director Bonnie, and Wendy. We actually asked students to help name it,” Kegler said. “We collected a whole bunch of different names and came up with Active Bodies, Active Minds. It’s a huge initiative covering all different aspects, mental health, disabilities and education.”

At first it was just an idea, but after some research and development, the useful equipment became a reality.

“A year ago, I started doing research on some of the active equipment, and Bonnie said, ‘Let’s try it and we’ll then collect some data on it and see what students think,” Kegler said. “Then it became bigger because there are mental health grants on campus. So we could do programming to help students with neurodiversity and with disabilities, and this could help people who might need it.”

For Adolescent History Education major Aiden Meyering, the addition of new equipment felt personal.

“I think the equipment is super helpful,” Meyering said. “As someone who is neurodivergent myself, I need to constantly be fidgeting while working, like shaking my legs, and those machines let me do that.”

Beyond physical movement, Meyering also said the equipment gave them an academic advantage.

“I plan to use it a lot more. It really helped my focus and how fast I got through my assignments, while also making me feel good about myself because I was technically exercising,” Meyering said.

However, the current offerings are not accessible to all students. Sophomore Emilee Ramírez had difficulty using some of the equipment due to a physical disability.

“I think the space the library has created to promote activity while studying is wonderful,” Ramírez said. “But for students with physical disabilities like mine, it’s hard to use a lot of the equipment. A lot of the equipment was not accessible to me as a wheelchair user.”

Keller acknowledged that accessibility and expansion of equipment will take time and funding.

“It does take money, so we don’t want to spend too much money without getting more student feedback, so today is like the kickoff for the Move Smart Corner to get the word out a little bit more,” Kegler said. “If something is more popular than the other, we may buy a couple more.”

Despite some current limitations, Ramírez said she still plans to return.

“I will continue to go and use the equipment that I am medical able to,” Ramírez said. “It’s a really cool space to study while also having equipment to use.”

Library staff are also encouraging groups such as the PE club, Psych club and those in Exercise Science check out the space and to offer their personalized feedback on the space and what works best.

“Part of the bigger initiative is how can we help students who had this all [accommodations and equipment] during high school, and then they come here and have to sit in a chair in a classroom for 50 minutes or an hour and a half,” Kegler said. “How do we make it better for all learners, not just the ones who can sit still and take notes?”

Kegler has a clear plan moving forward after the Open House: to gather data and reflect.

“We’re going to collect feedback this semester, analyze it over the summer, and see what we should do for the fall,” Kegler said. “There’s a chance it will fail, and people will be like, ‘No this isn’t worth the effort.’ So, there’s always research. You want it to succeed. W e’re talking about our space and making sure it’s inviting and inclusive.”

Any students who spend time in the Move Smart Corner this semester may be asked to complete a feedback survey, which could influence future changes in the space.

Faculty were on hand during the Open House to welcome students, and the space is now available for all to explore on the library’s main floor.