Initiative brings Bowlby Library, university together
WAYNESBURG – As the High Impact initiative unfolds at Waynesburg University, new relationships are formed with community partners, and existing ones are reinforced.
During the summer of 2014, the university became a part of the Bonner-High Impact Initiative. Together with community partners, representatives from the school began unfolding a plan to help organizations in the community and students on campus feel like a united force.
The Eva K. Bowlby Library in Waynesburg has been involved with the project from the start. This nonprofit organization has a long-standing relationship with Waynesburg University that Kathy McClure, director of Bowlby Library, feels can become even better through the High Impact initiative.
“I think the goals established by the High Impact team will be very beneficial to the library,” said McClure. “The library has a demand for conscientious volunteers, and a partnership with the university can open many avenues and benefits beyond what the library can access alone.”
According to McClure, the proximity of the library to campus, which allows students to access it without a vehicle, and the fact that several Waynesburg alumni work at Bowlby both account for the great partnership the two institutions have.
Junior math and secondary education major and Bonner Scholar Caley Blankenbuehler said the positive relationship is also a result of a long history between the library and the Bonner program.
“Waynesburg has a really good relationship with Bowlby, and a lot of that stems through the Bonner program,” said Blankenbuehler. “We’ve been working with them for a number of years, so we’ve been building up relationships there.”
The most widespread program at Bowlby involving university students is the tutoring program for youths in Greene County. Blankenbuehler, along with several other Bonners and some non-Bonners, serve in this program every week.
Bowlby Library is also an established site for students taking a Service Learning class to complete their service hours. However, according to Blankenbuehler, the students that use the library for this purpose rarely stay any longer than the 30 hours required for class, which means they miss an opportunity to form lasting community relationships.
“Sometimes service learning students just go for the 30 hours, which isn’t bad, but then it leaves us at a disadvantage with trying to fill their gap,” said Blankenbuehler. “Students love them and wonder where they went, and you have to try to explain that they only had to be here for a certain number of hours. I’d really like to see that relationship continue, where students who serve there, serve there faithfully.”
Students who serve at the library also assist with desk duty, preparing for programming and maintenance.
McClure said one result of the High Impact program she is hoping for is a system of placing students who want to serve in an area they are truly interested in.
“If we can place students within their areas of knowledge, comfort levels and interests, we all win,” said McClure. “They enjoy their placement and the library benefits from their knowledge base.”
According to McClure, the library also has things to offer students as part of the mutual relationship between Bowlby and the university.
In addition to offering numerous opportunities to fulfill service hours, the library provides ample print and digital resources and is open as a quiet place for college students to study. There are also chances for students to get real world experience in educating kids, creating webpages or learning about circulation.
Students can open a library card with just their student I.D., which gives them access to library resources all across Greene Country and Washington County. McClure said students are welcome to stop by or call at any time to find out about volunteer opportunities.
Through the implementation of a new service tab on myConnect, the university has made getting involved in the community even easier. The tab lists all of the mission trips coming up, as well as local service sites. Students can easily choose one that interests them and sign up.
According to Blankenbuehler, any student interested in serving can also stop into the Center for Service Leadership on the first floor of Stover, where one of several people will be happy to get them started.
As the High Impact initiative moves forward, McClure hopes it will be beneficial for Bowlby Library and for the community as a whole.
“I think the students will benefit by immersing themselves in the community and becoming a part of the community beyond Waynesburg University and the borough of Waynesburg,” said McClure. “When we are one in our goals, we will accomplish great things.”