The end of the Fall Term is approaching fast! Final exams, assignments, and those dreaded group projects are right around the corner. If you’re able to see beyond that, there are also potential holidays or celebrations that you and your loved ones might be planning. We’re all familiar with the image that is projected about the holidays – lots of food, family, presents, and activities. It’s portrayed as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for some, the reality of the end of term and the holidays can be very different. 

Many factors can impact how we feel and what we do to cope with pressure or stress as we approach the end of the term and holidays. Stress and stressors look different for everyone, but can include: 

• Financial stress 
• Family connection or disconnection 
• Housing insecurity 
• Food insecurity 
• Maintaining sobriety 
• Maintaining an image or self-esteem through gifts and celebrations 
• Celebrating holidays when your culture, religion, or traditions are not Christian – including fearing discrimination

(American Psychological Association, 2023)

Even reading that list can be anxiety inducing! But, one of the important things to know is that you're not alone and help is available!

Below are resources that might help you find help, or connect you to people who can direct you in the right direction for help

(United Way, n.d.) Options for help
	Elmhurst University - Financial Aid Find out how to apply for aid to reduce the cost of tuition, scholarships, and grants
	People’s Resource Center – Financial Assistance/Social Services Information on how to apply for emergency financial assistance Note: DuPage residents only
	Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Offers a range of assistance, including: Rental/mortgage assistance Electric, gas or water bills Car repair  Dental assistance through partnering dentists Prescription help (through Lombard Pharmacy) Financial Help Check-ups Note: only open to Elmhurst residents or members of an Elmhurst Covenant church
	All Chicago - Emergency Financial Assistance Offers different programs, such as: Flexible Financial Fund Student Emergency Fund Special Fund
	FindHelp Enter your zip code to find local resources
(Greater Chicago Food Depository, n.d.) Options for help
	Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry Serving residents of Elmhurst, Addison, Bensenville, Berkeley, Hillside, Lombard, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, and Villa Park
	Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Visit Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance to obtain a voucher to the Immaculate Conception Parish Food Pantry. Note: only open to Elmhurst residents or members of a Elmhurst Covenant Church
	West Suburban Community Pantry Walk in or make an appointment to shop at the pantry in Woodridge In person, online, and senior delivery options available Note: DuPage and Will County residents are prioritized
	Greater Chicago Food Depository Enter your zip code to find food banks and other help resources close to you
	Northern Illinois Food Bank – Get groceries and resources Enter your zip code to find food banks and other help resources close to you
(Housing Action Illinois, 2020) Options for help
	DuPagePads Offers emergency, interim, and empowerment housing options
	360 Youth Services – Housing Helps youth between 13-24 experiencing homelessness through an Emergency Youth Shelter, Transitional and Rapid Rehousing Programs, and Cornerstone Group Home
	The Harbour – Emergency Shelter Runaway, locked out or youth experiencing homelessness can gain access 24/7/365 to short-term shelter and supportive services including case management, access to health care, meals and short-term housing
	Metropolitan Family Services – Family Shelter Services Offers support, including emergency shelter, for those affected by domestic violence
	Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet - Kathy Paulsen Hope House Offers housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness
(National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d.)
Hotlines
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline	Call or Text 988 998 LifeLine - 24/7 free, confidential Call, text, chat, and hearing impaired options are available
Crisis Text Line	Text REACH to 741-741 Text, chat, and WhatsApp options are available. International support is also available
Domestic Violence Hotlines	Family Shelter Services: Metropolitan Family Services Hotline Call 630-469-5650 24/7 and confidential Assists with shelter, orders of protection, how to identify abusive behavior, and more
	National Domestic Violence Hotline Call 1-800-799-7233 24/7 and confidential Call, chat, and text options are available
Rape Crisis Hotlines	YWCA Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline Call 800-293-2080 Call or chat options are available Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Must be 13 or older to use chat
	RAINN Call 800-656-4673 Call, chat, and text options are available
	HelpGuide - Mental Health Hotlines Enter your zip code to find mental health hotlines and other help resources relevant to your location and situation
	National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): DuPage Offers a variety of services including in-person and Zoom based support groups covering topics such as: Adults with mental health conditions Emerging young adults Suicide loss support LGBTQ+ connection support
	Elmhurst University - Counseling Services Elmhurst University provides individual therapy and support groups free of charge by appointment only
	The Trevor Project The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people Chat, call, and text options are available 24/7

References

American Psychological Association. (2023, November 30). Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans [Press release]. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress

Greater Chicago Food Depository. (n.d.). Chicago’s food bank: Programs and food to end hunger. https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/  

Housing Action Illinois. (2020, March 10). Report: Affordable housing scarce in Illinois, census to affect related programs. https://housingactionil.org/blog/2020/03/10/report-affordable-housing-scarce-in-illinois-census-to-affect-related-programs/  

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Illinois state fact sheet: Mental health in Illinois. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IllinoisStateFactSheet.pdf  

United Way. (n.d.). Understand the consequences of insufficient income: The state of ALICE in Illinois. https://www.uwcil.org/ALICE#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20of%20Illinois's%20nearly%205.1%20million,in%20Illinois%20were%20below%20the%20ALICE%20Threshold

Banned Books Week is October 5th-11th, 2025. This is an annual week event organized by the American Library Association (ALA) and Banned Books Week Coalition to bring awareness about ongoing attempts to challenge or ban books in schools, libraries, and bookstores. The theme this year is “Censorship is so 1984. Read for your Rights.” Book challenges are increasing in school and public libraries. They appear to be concerns about age appropriation or content but mask broader efforts to silence diverse voices and perspectives.  

One of the common groups that challenges books is Moms for Liberty, a conservative group located in Florida that advocates for parental rights. Other groups impose Christian nationalist political views toward public schools. Some politicians also actively support book bans (Chavez, 2022). While these attempts are often posed as protecting children, their primary function is censorship, suppressing diverse stories, and infringing on the First Amendment.

Summer is a great time to read a good book or pick up a new hobby. Our three library displays will help you achieve your #SummerGoals.

We have three displays this summer full of all sorts of goodies.

Circulation Windows – As we welcome incoming students and their families into the Nest, we are featuring books about higher ed and making it through the college experience. These books are behind glass, but you are welcome to check them out!

Cafe Shelf – June is Pride Month! The display on the cafe shelf features a display of Stonewall Awards and Lambda Literary Awards winning novels. The novels celebrate LGBTQIA+ readers and authors. Taste the rainbow!!
 

Reading Area – Do you play chess? Maybe you don’t have time for a whole game or can’t find someone to play with. We got you covered. Check out our "Impress with Chess" table. We have set up a chess board so that people can play chess asynchronously as they wander by. Simply make your move and slide the marker over to the “other” side. Come back later in the day or next week to make another move. We also have a few books about chess on display.

Stressed out? Need a break? Pet a pup!

We'll have therapy dogs visiting (outside) the library on May 13 at 2. Stop by the lawn just outside and find inner peace (inner paws?)!

Did you know we offer three rotating displays of books each month? 

In the Reading Area's display focuses on Malcolm X. This month marks the 100th anniversary of his birth and this year marked the 60th anniversary of his assassination. The display includes materials about his life, political and religious views, his autobiography, the 1992 film, and W.E.B. Dubois and Marcus Garvey who influenced his views.

The Circulation Windows showcase AAPI (or AAHNPI) Heritage Month. This book display offers fiction written by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage authors. 

Last, the Cafe Shelf focuses on Mental Health Awareness. There are a selection of biographies, self-help, psychology, and general non-fiction titles all dealing with various aspects of mental health.

As a reminder, if you or someone you know is having difficulty, there are multiple resources available for you.

For students, start here: Student Mental Health Resources. In-person, on-campus counseling is available, as well as local referrals and 24-hour on call therapists.

Not a student? Elmhurst University employees have help is available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with AllOne Health. This includes in-the-moment counseling support or one-hour counseling sessions that you may schedule. You may reach Perspectives by phone or text message 24/7 at 1-800-451-1834 to be connected with a counselor. The EAP is a free and confidential service, and is available to all employees. 

Anyone in Illinois can call the Illinois Department of Health's Crisis Help Hotline which can be reached by dialing or texting 988 

Looking for a particular journal but not sure how to find it? Bluejay Search offers three ways!

1. Type the name of the journal directly in the search bar.

2. Browse the categories.

3. Use the A-Z list of titles!

Happy Searching!

It's hard to stay on top of the news these days, so we've tried to make it just a little easier. Check out our brand new Newspaper & Media guide!

The A.C. Buehler Library subscribes to a number of newspaper databases, letting you bypass those pesky subscription fees. The Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and hundreds of others are available.

We've also curated a list of online news sources, as well as historical newspapers, when you just need a break from current events.

This year, we celebrated National Library Week (April 6-12) with cake, and asking students what they love about the A.C. Buehler Library!

But we also used National Library Week to advocate for libraries, especially in the face of cuts to IMLS, or the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The IMLS is the federal funding agency for libraries and museums in the country, and in 2024, provided $5.7m for Illinois libraries. These funds support resource sharing, like interlibrary loan, as well as other services and programs.

For Elmhurst, if IMLS funding is eliminated, there's a chance that we wouldn't be able to provide the same level of interlibrary loan services that we do now.

For more information about National Library Week and IMLS, visit our guide.