Fostering Creativity at the Library

Every day, students across campus let their creativity shine through various personal or class projects. The OSU Library wants to provide students of all majors with a platform to showcase their talents and celebrate creativity in all of its many forms.

The Library Creativity Award is an annual challenge hosted by the OSU Library in which students are encouraged to submit their creative works for the opportunity to win up to $1,000. Students may enter their projects in four categories: 2D, 3D, Motion and Wild Card. The winner of each category is awarded $300, and one entry is selected to receive the title of Best in Show along with a $1,000 grand prize.

The possibilities to what students can submit are limited only by how big they can dream. Past winners have submitted 3D models, videos and even apps!

William Davis, a previous LCA winner, understands the importance of this award for fostering creativity across campus.

“The Library Creativity Award encourages students to think outside of the box and apply their skills in new and innovative ways,” William said. “This competition challenged not only my ability to come up with ideas, but also my ability to refine and execute them.”

The entries are judged based on originality, creativity and the use of library resources. Now, “use of library resources” can mean a lot of things. Of course, the more obvious interpretations could mean using the 3D printers in the Edmon Low Creative Studios or using software on library computers. It could also mean looking through books for inspiration or checking out a study room to work on your project.

This award is just one of the many ways the OSU Library encourages students to foster their creativity. The Edmon Low Creative Studios, for example, allows students year-round access to an audio studio, 3D printers and tons of equipment that’s available for check out through the Tech to Go desk.

On more than one occasion, I have checked out a camera from the Tech to Go desk. After taking a photography class, I fell in love with the art. Yet once the class ended, so did my access to a DSLR – or so I thought. By checking out a camera at the library, I was able to pursue one of my creative passions without the financial burden of purchasing my own.

Another personal favorite way to find inspiration is in the quartos section of the library. The books here range in subject from fashion to photography, geography to history. I could spend hours browsing through these massive books, finding inspirations in the photos and stories.

The Library Creativity Award is unique in that it does not limit students based on their major or interests. Everyone is encouraged to enter, whether you’re an engineer, biologist or education major. The OSU Library wants students to explore new and unique ways of thinking and creating while providing them with the resources to do this.

The award is open to all students at Oklahoma State University. Submissions for LCA are due Monday, April 8. You can find more comprehensive guidelines or previous LCA winners on the library’s website.

The OSU Library wants students to succeed in all areas of their lives and provide them with the resources to support and encourage them in every aspect of their educational journey at OSU.

There are millions of things to be inspired by in the library. What inspires you? 

Posted by Jenny Berry, electronic communications intern

Searching for Answers: The Whats, Hows and Whys of Research

The word “research” is thrown around on college campuses like a Frisbee is thrown around Library Lawn on a sunny spring day. Students hear it in every class. It does not discriminate based on major or interests. But what exactly is research?

This is a question I have asked multiple times over the course of the last few weeks. With the Undergraduate Library Research Award applications open, I began wondering who can apply and what type of research qualifies for the award. Through a bit of investigation of my own, I’ve learned that research takes on a variety of forms and covers many topics.

Perhaps the most important discovery I made was how many things fall under the umbrella of research. Performing what one may consider more traditional research (visions of hypotheses and lots of tests fill my head) is not the only form or process for performing research. An artist searching for new techniques or methods may speak with other artists, visit museums or test out new materials. A dietician could study dietary patterns in a group of people or try out new recipes. A journalist may interview various sources or read dozens of news articles. Research does not fit inside a nice, neat box. It reaches beyond what we may expect.

I’ve also learned that research is a conversation. It is a dialogue between many sources, and we, as researchers, must determine which aspects of the conversation we should digest. How do these voices work together and help us understand the broader picture? Which voices should we listen to and which should we question? Not all information and sources are credible, and delving in further to determine the truth is sometimes necessary. These are all important elements of well-rounded research.

I never realized how much research I have actually done during my college career, and I now realize the important role research will play in my future. Professionals, regardless of industry, perform research nearly every day. But what good does this research do if it just sits on your computer?

This brings me back to the Undergraduate Library Research Award. The OSU Library encourages students to share their research work with the world through ULRA. Graphic designers, architects, entrepreneurs, engineers and really anyone with a thirst for knowledge and the drive to seek out information qualifies for this award. Students who wish to apply should submit a 750-1,000 word essay describing their research process and a finished or nearly complete version of the research project. Participants have the opportunity to win $1,500 for their work. Awards of $750 are also available for honorable mentions.

The OSU Library provides students with the opportunity to apply for ULRA in hopes of inspiring and supporting research across campus. It also provides students with dozens of resources to succeed in their research, such as research guides, databases, subject librarians and research data services. This also includes SHAREOK, the joint institutional repository that I discussed in my previous post.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many facets to research that would probably take more than a single blog post to truly explain. My hope is that you do some research of your own and learn more about the different types of research and why it is important. Of course, it helps us make discoveries we otherwise would not have made, but it does more than give us facts. It connects us to other people, other cultures and other ways of thinking. Research broadens our horizons beyond what can be found in the classroom. All it takes is a little motivation, commitment and curiosity.

Posted by Jenny Berry, electronic communications intern 

Library Creativity Award

This month, the OSU Library will be selecting five individuals as winners of the 2017 Library Creativity Awards. This is the second year the library has offered the competition, so the process is still relatively new to all. In short, students submit creative projects they have completed within the last school year to be judged by a panel. The projects are sorted into designated categories, and winners are chosen.

The five creative categories are Two Dimensional, Three Dimensional, Motion Animation, Wild Card and Best in Show. The grand prize winner, Best in Show, receives $1000 for their creative efforts; the category winners each take home $300.

Fortunately, the OSU Library’s technologies have made many forms of creativity possible for students who may not have access to certain programs on their own. For example, the OSU Library computers are loaded with popular Adobe programs that allow students creative freedom without having to pay for a subscription.

The Edmon Low Creative Studios are a hub for these services. Inside Room 105, there is a 3D studio with modelling software and printers; Mac and Windows suites with design programs and recording devices; and a presentation studio with a green screen. The Tech to Go desk offers several types of digital cameras, microphones and corresponding audio/video editing programs as well as subscriptions to Lynda.com, where students can find tutorials on all things inventive.

Last year’s “Best in Show” winner Christian Coletti, aerospace and mechanical engineering major, wanted to learn more about minimal surfaces, so he found relevant research materials in the basement. He then created designs using Blender software and built prototypes of his designs using the library’s 3D printers.

As in Christian’s case, this competition gives students the opportunity to show off their abilities and be recognized for their work. It also allows the OSU Library to indirectly promote helpful library services; however, applicants are not required to use library resources in their works. Submissions can be projects the students completed for a class or simply for their own entertainment.

By offering prizes to students who produce innovative and fascinating work, the Library Creativity Award acts as an incentive for students to use the products and services made available by the OSU Library. The winners show other students what is possible with the library. The OSU Library's technologies make it possible for students like Coletti to put their creativity to work. This brings new ideas to life and maximizes potential in students throughout their time at Oklahoma State.

Post by Jennifer Barnett, E-Communications intern for OSU Library Communications