Business Communications Students Help Public Library

Wayne State College Students of Business Communications completed a Service Learning Project for the Gardner Public Library in Wakefield. Students who participated include Derick Engelbert of West Point; Jennings Johnson of Oakland; Rachel Kotalik of Dakota City; Jillian Schnebel of Pierce; Kayla Neuhalfen of Laurel; Tonya Wical of Wayne; Jean Hartung of Fremont; Jason Jelinek of Laurel, John Bothwell of Mason City, Iowa; and Jessica Spanihel of Garwood, Texas.

"We were impressed by the way the Gardner Public Library serves Wakefield area residents in so many ways. The students learned a lot about how a library can enhance community learning" said Dr. Laura Dendinger, associate professor for the School of Business and Technology.

Head librarian Kathy Muller asked for assistance identifying grants that the library could utilize as well as ideas to serve community members in new and innovative ways. The group worked to identify grant programs and fundraising ideas from libraries across the country.

The students worked closely to come up with 18 programs that the library could use. These programs included descriptions of the events and prepared donation letters for sponsorship in the community. Students determined ways to make these programs easy to execute.

This program was supported by the Wayne State College Service-Learning Project. Service-Learning grants at WSC are part of a grant from the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education (MCSLHE) made possible through the Corporation for National Service under the Learn and Serve America: Higher Education grant program.