East Dunbartonshire Libraries visitors have been brightening their days and helping to ward off seasonal affective disorder (SAD), thanks to a pioneering, award-winning partnership between the library and the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
Working together, the universities and the library service created 100 Wintering Well boxsets, which library users in Kirkintilloch, Lennoxtown, Milngavie and Bishopbriggs can borrow for free for four-week loan periods. The pioneering project has been hailed a great success by users, and recently won a prestigious library award for social work with libraries from the 2025 EDGE Conference.
The initiative builds on the work of a Glasgow University research group, The Living with SAD ‘Wintering Well’ ESRC IAA team, which suggests light therapy could be an effective way of alleviating the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that comes and goes in a cyclical pattern.
Since 2023 East Dunbartonshire Libraries has had static Lumie light-lamps available to book for half hour slots in their libraries. By expanding their offer, the service is supporting the university to evaluate their research.
Tara Hepburn, Library Officer with East Dunbartonshire Libraries explained: “The research group at the University of Glasgow got in touch after one of their participants mentioned our static lamps project. He lives in East Dunbartonshire and had heard about our static lamps. The Wintering Well boxes help us both – it gives us a way to disseminate and evaluate the service and the university an evidence base for their valuable research.”
Pioneering practical solutions
The project is the first of its kind in Scotland – combining practical wellbeing tools and advice which people can borrow and use within their homes. The project is funded by the university, which was awarded a UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account to research the possibilities of light therapy. The boxes contain a mini Lumie light-lamp, a Guidebook to Wintering Well, and the opportunity to access a free online support programme created with University of Glasgow partners Living Life to the Full.
Tara said: “With our static lamps people could book them and sit in a chair beside the lamp and read or chat to be near the light. It was part of a project we had with East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action, the Third Sector Interface for East Dunbartonshire. For those that used them the static lamps made a real difference however, people are restricted because they need to come to the library every day to really benefit from the effects. With the portable ones, they can sit with the lamp for half an hour whenever is good for them.”
Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust, Councillor Jim Gibbons, said: ‘We have been overwhelmed by the reaction to the Wintering Well boxes in the libraries. Within a week of having them available, every single one of them was out on loan! The project has also started some really positive conversations in our libraries about how to approach wintertime and take care of your wellbeing during the darker months. People are really connecting with the lamp and the resources – it is improving their experience of winter which is so encouraging to hear.”
East Dunbartonshire Libraries also organised Wintering Well Walks and regular coffee mornings throughout the winter months to help people in the community who are affected by seasonal depression. It gave library users the option of using the light at home and benefitting from regular social interaction.
At the 2025 EDGE Conference, the project won the social category, for work involving communities or target groups, engagement or making a difference.
The EDGE award judge said: “It has taken libraries from a more passive role in providing health information to a more proactive one with the provision of physical support aids and equipment alongside information as positive treatment for a mental health condition. It is both innovative and inventive and has shown great partnership working with huge support from frontline library staff.”
Next steps…
- East Dunbartonshire residents can borrow the Wintering Well boxes from William Patrick Library in Kirkintilloch and the libraries in Bishopbriggs, Lennoxtown and Milngavie. East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust can also transfer boxes to other local libraries on request.
- Access the Wintering Well resources from anywhere in the world on the project website.
- Get more information on bright light therapy.