The Libraries' Student Video Contest Winners

Kevin Mai has won the Libraries' Video Contest with his video, "Libraries, Home of the Anteater." The contest theme was "Think you're smart? Show new students something about the UCI Libraries that will help them succeed. Highlight the UCI Libraries with a two minute video about our collections, services, spaces, equipment, or anything else that will help a new student use the Libraries." The judges were especially impressed with Kevin's ability to humorously demonstrate the myriad ways the UCI Libraries help our students succeed.

Kevin, a chemistry major who graduated in Spring 2012, entered the Libraries' contest because, "I go to the library all the time with friends to study, so why not just use this opportunity to create a video to advertise the library to new students who could also use some of the resources." In the video, he highlights many different library spaces, as well as different services, including Ayala Science Libraries' beautiful views, the study rooms, and course reserves. He has a special appreciation for the Libraries' study rooms and spoke eloquently about how, when studying for an exam, "it was really nice to have that spot where I could close myself off from the world. It was quiet, there were no interruptions, it was just me, and a white board, and all of my study materials."

Dale Kim won the Audience Award for his video "Same Difference," and also received a Kindle Fire. Dale, majoring in Film & Media Studies, shot scenes in and around the Libraries and made use of the Libraries' PowerMacs for the production work. His video is an ingenious and clever split-screen story of a student who goes to the library to complete a class assignment on one side; on the other side the same student stays home, is distracted by social media and video games, and is ultimately defeated when his printer fails. In the end, the first student turns in his assignment and gets to bed early that evening while the second student is still up working, looking exhausted and frustrated."

Both winning videos can be viewed at https://www.lib.uci.edu/videocontest/winners.html.