Light box to combat winter blues on loan from Scottish libraries

Now, libraries in Glasgow are offering users the chance to borrow a lamp to help counteract the effects of the wintry weather.

The Wintering Well Box includes a therapeutic lamp to help counteract the effects of SAD caused by low light levels during the darkest period of the year, along with a guidebook offering tips on activities to help develop a healthier winter routine.

The light can help improve SAD by encouraging the brain to reduce melatonin production, a hormone that signals sleep, and increase the production of serotonin, which plays a role in mood and wellbeing.

The partnership between Glasgow Life – the charity which delivers culture, events and active living in Glasgow – and the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh will make 66 Wintering Well Boxes available from the Mitchell Library and across 10 community libraries.

The project follows a pilot scheme in East Dunbartonshire for the past two years, while residents of the Orkney Islands also took part last winter.

Annmarie Galbraith, health and wellbeing coordinator with Glasgow Life Libraries, said: “We’re delighted to roll out the Wintering Well Boxes during the darker months of the year. Winter can be a tough time, when the lack of natural sunlight makes everyday life feel more of a struggle. As Scotland’s largest city, and one that experiences low light levels for much of the winter, we know this can be a challenging time for many people.

“The Wintering Well Boxes are designed to help people manage low mood in simple, practical ways, whether that’s trying a SAD lamp, taking part in creative activities, or finding connection and support through their local library.

“Having seen the positive impact of the pilot scheme in East Dunbartonshire, we believe these boxes will be a valuable new resource for communities across Glasgow. Public libraries are trusted, welcoming spaces, and this scheme shows how they can play a real role in supporting health and wellbeing, helping people feel more supported and better equipped to cope with the long, dark winter days.”

The development of the Wintering Well Boxes is part of the UKRI-funded research project ‘Living with SAD’, led by Professor Hester Parr of the University of Glasgow.

Professor Hester Parr, of Glasgow University’s School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, said: “It's particularly apt and appropriate that our city library service has joined with us at the university, to try and help with the experience of SAD in Glasgow, a place well known for low light, rain and long winters. Our original research programme, which lies beyond the Wintering Well at the Library programme, worked with Glasgow residents to co-produce creative ways of managing through this demanding seasons.

“The Glasgow Life library scheme will build on that with supported walks and talks and appeal to all sorts of people in different walks of life.”

The launch coincides with the opening of a Wintering Well exhibition at the Mitchell Library, running from 12 January to 9 February. The exhibition captures everyday experiences of SAD shared by people at a series of Glasgow-based events, held as part of a research project on winter light and mental health.

Glasgow Life is also offering a series of free Wintering Well Walks, encouraging people to notice and make the most of natural light. Leaving from and returning to Bridgeton, Castlemilk, Drumchapel and the Mitchell Libraries, people can join a guided walking group and observe the winter sky. People can also take part in free Brew & Blether gatherings, offering warmth and conversation in the cold months.