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PARTNERSHIPS

PARTNERSHIPS

UMCP COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

The Library has a longstanding collaboration with the UMCP Communication Program. For the eighth year, the library displayed the work of a photography class. Students submitted their work to their professor, who selected the best work to be displayed in the library.

posters of collages of photos taken by students

Panels from photo exhibit.

Another class submitted designs for posters to promote Night Owls (the Library’s late night hours). Library staff voted on the designs and the winning poster can be seen below. The Library has worked with communication students since 2013 to design marketing materials to promote Library services and programs. 

Poster created by a Communication student selected for the 2023-24 academic year.

COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING INTERNSHIP PROJECT

The Library, in partnership with the office of the Executive Director, hosted six summer interns. These interns were tasked with two projects, developing a plan for a Community Wealth Building studio at USG, and creating a framework for a central Community Wealth Building resource database. The students worked together and presented their work to a forum of USG leaders and thinkers in the Community Wealth Building movement. The student interns also benefited from attending networking events, taking CliftonStrengths assessments, and receiving career coaching from the Center for Career Development.

Seven young adults standing in front of a TV screen with an image of another person on it.

Community wealth building student interns with Franklin Ofsthun (1st on left).

UMCP COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING CAPSTONE PROJECTS

Throughout the course of the Spring semester, Franklin Ofsthun represented the Library as the client for two groups of UMCP Information Science students who were working on capstone projects related to Community Wealth Building. The groups were tasked with continuing the work of the summer interns by collecting resources related to community wealth building and building a website to host this information. The teams presented their capstone project in May. 

CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

In fall 2023, the Library piloted a new “raise ask project” for our graduating student employees, aimed to teach them how to negotiate their salary and hourly rates. Library Student Assistants who participated in the project received feedback on their pitches from both their library managers and career coaches at the Center for Career Development. In spring 2024, this project took the form of a workshop developed by Jeni O’Connor and staff at the Center for Career Development. This workshop was attended by student employees in several other departments across USG.

 

Additionally, all Library Student Assistants were asked to complete a CliftonStrenths personal assessment to discover their top 5 strengths. Students met with a Career Couch to discuss their results. This project has led to a greater sense of confidence among student employees, and also has given their managers a better understanding of what special projects they might excel at.  The Library’s strong relationship with the Center for Career Development has inspired Priddy Library to present on how valuable career services centers are as partners to other academic libraries.

ENGAGEMENT IN THE VR LAB

In addition to our regular drop-in VR Lab hours, the Library partnered with other USG departments and programs on events and initiatives. The Macklin Center for Leadership and Communication purchased a subscription of the Virtual Speech app, which was installed on Library VR headsets. This app allows users to practice their presentation skills with an AI-generated audience that provides immediate and more specific, overall feedback. USG students could interact with the app during the Library’s VR Lab hours and for two days a week in the Macklin Center space. 

 

At USG’s Intercultural Night, a celebration of the many different backgrounds and cultures of USG students, faculty, and staff, participants could explore other countries through the Wander app or learn about and prepare traditional recipes in the Lost Recipes app.

Two children using VR headsets.

Exploring different cultures through VR.

young man helping a young girl in ethinic clothes adjust hand controllers for VR

Students from USG’s Student Council, as well as a UMCP Communication class, got to try out our VR headsets while also honing their teamwork and communication skills in two different events that tapped into an escape room app. 

A group of women interacting with another woman who is wearing a VR headset.

UMCP Communication students and professor work collaboratively on solving a problem using VR.

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