Bookmarking Augustana’s creative side

Between late-night study sessions and stacks of notes, Augustana students are finding time for a new kind of creativity — designing bookmarks that might just earn them campus bragging rights.

The Augustana Student Association (ASA), in collaboration with the Mikkelsen Library, is hosting a campus-wide bookmark design contest that’s bringing art, personality and a bit of competition to the stacks. The contest opened for submissions on Oct. 27 and runs through Nov. 9.

Students can design their bookmarks digitally, through tools like Canva, Photoshop, or make them by hand. Those who prefer paint, markers or paper and scissors simply snap a photo of their creation and upload it through a Google form, linked by QR codes scattered across campus and on ASA’s Instagram.

The idea came from Abigail Smith, a third-year senator and chair of ASA’s Curriculum Committee, who wanted to build on the buzz from last spring’s sticker design competition.

“It was inspired by a sticker competition we did in spring last year, which was also the first of its kind,” Smith said. “We did it during National Library Week, and it was super successful.”

For Smith, the contest isn’t just about creativity — it’s about connection. Partnering with the library gives students a chance to express how they see and value the space that so many call their second home on campus.

Digital Initiatives Librarian Kelly Thompson said the contest encourages students to use graphic design to highlight what matters most to them about the library or how they visually interpret its space and services while also aiming to strengthen relationships with campus librarians and students.

One student who noticed the contest and submitted a design while in the library is senior Maddox Sievert, a government and international affairs major.

For Sievert, it’s a welcome change of pace from the usual rhythm of campus life.

“I’ve been here for four years and I haven’t seen a whole lot of contests,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for students to make resources for themselves to use.”

He added that he hopes this creative streak continues.

“It gives students the opportunity to add character to the school,” Sievert said. “And I wish there were more contests like it.”

Beyond color palettes and clever slogans, Smith said the contest carries a bigger purpose: showing administrators what students care about.

“It’s also an opportunity for librarians to have a source of information and data about what students think and what they appreciate about the library,” Smith said. “This data can be used down the line when admin and faculty are making decisions on major university changes or administrative changes on a large level. Because when it comes to those changes, a question that is asked by faculty or upper admin is what do students think about this? And this is an instance where we have data that they can look back on and be like, okay, they like this and this about the library.”

Access Services Librarian Krista Ohrtman said she loves that the contest gives students a literal and figurative voice in shaping the library’s identity.

“I like every opportunity that we have for our students to have a voice in what this place is, looks like, feels like, all of that,” Ohrtman said. “Even if it’s just a bookmark.”

When submissions close, students will have the final say on their favorite design. Voting runs from Nov. 10 to Nov. 14, with physical ballot boxes displaying the entries across campus. On Nov. 14, one winner will be crowned based on student votes, and the big reveal will happen at an ASA meeting on Nov. 16.

The prize? A basket worth flipping a page for — a $25 Olive Garden gift card, a Scheels gift card, a Lego set, some refreshments and an assortment of Mikkelsen Library merch, including a limited-edition blanket and a vintage shirt all donated by the librarians.

And the cherry on top: the winning bookmark will be professionally printed and available at the library just in time for finals week.

A small prize, maybe — but one that proves creativity still has a place among the textbooks and term papers.