What do you love about USC’s libraries? Tell us in a 60 – 90 second video for a chance to win up to $1,000!
The libraries are here to support the academic journeys of every student on campus – and they do so in more ways than many students realize. Help your fellow students learn all there is to appreciate about the libraries. You could be rewarded with both cash and a great line on your resume.
Some ideas to get you started
Your video could:
- Give a tour of Thomas Cooper Library, highlighting helpful services and resources along the way.
- Walk us through a real or hypothetical research project and describe how the libraries were helpful in bringing it to fruition.
- Get personal: describe how the libraries have supported your academic journey.
- Or take any other approach you like.
Not sure what library resources to spotlight? This welcome letter to students from Libraries Dean David Banush offers a great overview.
Contest details
How to enter:
- Create a video about the libraries at USC that’s between 60 and 90 seconds long. The winning videos will run on University Libraries’ social media channels during Love Your Library month (February), so your video should in some way express love or appreciation for the libraries. It should also educate other students about library services and resources that can benefit them.
- Upload your video via our contest registration form between September 15 – December 18, 2026.
- Contest results will be announced to all entrants in January, 2027.
Eligibility:
- All USC Columbia undergraduate students are eligible to enter. You must be actively enrolled at USC Columbia at the time you submit your contest entry.
- Contest entrants can submit as individuals or as a team. If a team wins a cash prize, the prize money will be split among all team members equally. For example, each member of a 4-person team that’s awarded $500 would receive $125.
- Videos must be between 60 and 90 seconds in length.
- Videos must be submitted in mp4 format by 11:59 p.m. on December 18, 2026 via the contest registration form.
- Videos must be original content.
- Video filming must not violate the Libraries’ Building Use Policy and must follow the Libraries’ Filming, Photography and Video Guidelines. (If filming will not in any way disturb library users, it is not necessary to get permission from the communications director to film in the library.)
Judging criteria:
- Videos will be evaluated by a panel of judges made up of Libraries employees and USC faculty on the following criteria:
- Effective communication of the value of library resources for USC undergraduates
- Level of creativity
- Coherent and compelling storytelling
Outcomes:
- Three winning videos will be selected, and prizes will be awarded as follows:
- First place: $1,000
- Second place: $500
- Third place: $250
- The winning videos will appear on the Libraries’ YouTube page and will run on the Libraries’ social media channels in February, 2027, in celebration of Love Your Libraries Month.
- By entering the contest, you consent for the Libraries to use your video, in perpetuity, to promote library services and resources for students.
What else to know:
- There are two spaces in Thomas Cooper Library that students can reserve for video filming/production: our Production Studio, which can be reserved online; and the Graniteville Room, which has ample natural light and can be configured to represent various library environments. To reserve the Graniteville Room, contact Leslie Haynsworth, University Libraries Director of Communications.
- Filming is also allowed elsewhere in the Libraries, but if there is any chance it could be disruptive to library users, you must get permission from Leslie Haynsworth, the Libraries’ Director of Communications. One person quietly filming b-roll is probably fine anywhere in the libraries that’s generally open to the public. Two or more people talking while they film b-roll is fine anywhere that’s not designated as quiet space, such as the main floor and level 4 of Thomas Cooper. If you want to film anything other than b-roll on levels 1 – 3, you will need to get permission.
Questions? Contact Kristine Hontz, University Libraries Marketing and Digital Content Manager.