Coloring the Future: Wittenberg Students Transform Thomas Library Amid Library Crisis

While public libraries across the country are experiencing a period of darkness, Wittenberg students have brought color back into Thomas Library.

Libraries across the country are facing significant challenges, with issues like underfunding, reduced hours, lack of resources, and more recently, major budget cuts. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle several key agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Despite the uncertainty regarding the future of public libraries, 10 Wittenberg students found a way to make a positive impact by taking on the creative project of painting the columns inside the library during their FIRE week.

The Thomas Library describes this project on the website, “From neolithic cave paintings to modern murals and sculpture, art in public spaces has tremendous power to tell a story, evoke emotions, and create a sense of shared belonging,” it says. “For this FIRE week experience, director of the library Dr. Amanda McLellan and art professor Gypsy Schindler partnered to lead a group of 10 students on tours of public art in Springfield, Cincinnati, and Yellow Springs, and design and create a mural in Thomas Library.”

McLellan describes the purpose of the colorful project, “In this project initiative with Gyspey Schindler our purpose was putting some color on some of the columns to allow students to build a sense of community,” she said. She also emphasized the importance of public art in the library, “It gives some students the opportunity to build that here in the library.”

For the students involved, the inspiration came from the idea of brightening the space. Freshman art major, Oliver Julian, shared their personal motivation for the project. “I think it gives another reason for people to go,” they said. Julian chose to incorporate bright fruit designs at the bottom of the columns explaining why in their artist statement.

“I adore the bright and fun, exciting colors, and the summer vibe that they give off. When learning about this opportunity to paint a mural in the library, I knew I wanted to incorporate some of that bright fun into the space.”

As Wittenberg students work to bring the fun and vibrancy back to the library, Wittenberg librarians are also doing their part to encourage students to return. Kristen Peters helped initiate the book vending machine project in collaboration with Clark County, explaining, “We were looking for a way to partner with the public library because we want students to have leisure time as well, so we thought why don’t we try this vending machine idea?”

Peters, who has dedicated 17 years to the university library, has not only been a vital part of the library’s operations but is important to the students as well. Leaving is a monumental decision for her, as she shared, “It’s really hard to leave, I have friends and family and colleagues here.”

According to the Ohio Capital-Journal, the House budget cuts could impact public libraries across 39 counties. They also report that the libraries would see funding cuts via the new distribution formula as soon as the budget is enacted, which is expected to happen on July 1st.