Student Library Research Award

The Wellesley College Friends of the Library have generously donated funds establishing an award to recognize outstanding library research papers/projects by undergraduates in any discipline.

• Maximum of two $300 awards for a paper or project of any length from a 100 or 200 level Wellesley College course
• One $750 award for a paper or project of any length from a 300 level Wellesley College course, excluding 360s, and 370s

Purpose

In this age of electronic information, research has become a more complicated process. Sources may be in paper or microfilm, on the Web, or in other electronic formats. Evaluating these sources takes increasing time and effort. This award was created to reward those students who take the time to develop a thoughtful, methodical, and scholarly approach to the research needed for their papers and projects, as well as to encourage students to develop good research techniques.

Eligibility

• Current Wellesley College students registered for a Wellesley College course. Individuals or teams may submit projects/papers and all class levels and all disciplines are eligible.
• Eligible papers/projects must have been completed during the previous calendar year. For the 2009 award, papers/projects must have been completed during Spring or Fall semester 2008. Each student or team may submit only one paper/project per award year. Each paper/project may only be submitted once.
• All submissions must be accompanied by a letter of support from the faculty member who taught the course for which the paper/project is submitted.
• Applicants must agree to give the Library permission to exhibit winning papers/projects in the Library. All application materials remain the property of the Library. Winning papers/projects will become part of the College Archives.

Evaluation Criteria

Successful projects will:

• Make extensive, creative use of diverse library resources and collections in any format.
• Demonstrate effective application of information literacy and fluency principles:
  • determining information needs
  • evaluating and analyzing information
  • managing, organizing and synthesizing information
  • applying information in the context of the research project
  • making responsible use of information by providing appropriate and accurate citations and credits
• Show evidence of significant personal knowledge in the methods of research and inquiry.

Evaluation Committee

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel consisting of: two faculty members, two librarians, and one member of the Friends of the Library Steering Committee.

Application Procedure

Applications will consist of:

• Application cover sheet [download cover sheet]
• Letter of support from the supervising faculty member or instructor [download faculty support cover sheet]
• A 500-700 word research strategy essay describing your research strategy, sources used, how your research skills developed, and how your research contributed to the quality of your paper/project. [essay tips]
• A final version of the research project/paper submitted for a letter grade, including your bibliography
  • For digital projects: submit a printout of the first 'page' of the project in addition to the digitally formatted version. Provide a DVD or CD copy of web based projects. All other application components must be submitted in paper.

Application Deadline

Application deadline is 5:00pm, March 1, 2009. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and late applications will not be considered. Applications will not be returned; please submit copies.

Email completed applications to Library Research Award in First Class. Projects that cannot be emailed can be sent or hand delivered to Betty Febo, Clapp Library.

2008 Award Recipients:

100/200 Catherine Caruso '10 for BISC 201: "My Memory Place: A History of Ecological Change in Belmont, Massachusetts".

300 Jennifer Schwarzkopf '09 for ENG 385: "Vanity Fair: A 'Crooked Mirror' for Society".

Purpose
Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation Committee
Application Procedure
Application Deadline

Frequently asked questions about the Library Research Award

Betty Febo
Page Created: June 6, 2007
Last Modified: April 28, 2008
Page Expires: June 30, 2009