Hannon Library 70th Anniversary with FDLP

Student Design Work Displayed in Hannon Library

Hannon Library recently gave students in the EMDA 343: Graphic Design Methods class taught by Sam Hayes-Hicks, Assistant Professor of Emerging Media and Digital Art, an opportunity to share their work beyond the classroom setting with a unique collaboration with several librarians.  The partnership began as a fun way to celebrate Hannon Library’s 70th anniversary as part of the Federal Library Depository Program (FDLP). This program allows the library to provide free access to a vast array of unique historical and current materials from the Federal government and the State of Oregon. 

The collection includes distinctive posters, maps, and documents from Federal and state agencies, allowing graphic design students the opportunity to examine the design elements and possible informational purposes of the materials. Holly Gabriel, Open Access & Government Information Librarian and Jan Juliani, Cataloging & Digital Projects Librarian and Subject Liaison for Art & Art History, enjoyed working with the students to provide an overview of finding and using the library’s collection of government materials. 

Students Are Given a Mission!

Students in the class were randomly assigned a Federal government agency to research and then design a poster highlighting that specific agency. Students returned to the library to present their printed posters to their classmates, librarians, and EMDA faculty. Attendees also enjoyed a decorated cake to celebrate the milestone of 70 years of providing free access for all to government information. 

Students participated in a friendly competition to vote on their favorite poster regarding its design elements and how the poster represented the federal agency. The winners of best posters included Maliah Ratcliff and Gianna McCardell, who share some thoughts below:

“For my poster, I had the United States Postal Service. I was really inspired with their 1937 logo and decided to make it the focal point of the stamp.” –Maliah Ratcliff

“I enjoyed working on this project because we all got to be really creative while also getting a sense of what it’s like to work for a client instead of for a professor. My posters (which were made to represent the Department of Housing and Urban Development) were mainly inspired by colorful images of buildings I found on the Department’s website and the iconic mosaic in the entryway of the Hannon Library. During the design process, my intention was to incorporate both clean-cut graphic design and rough, loose illustration for a fun but still professional look.” –Gianna McCardell

Everyone can view the posters on display on the first floor of the Hannon Library in the windows of the Government Information Office. 

For more information about the FDLP, click the link here.

Also, you can admire the students’ posters below: