LOYOLA LINKS

• February 14, 2012
• 12:01 am
• Jessica Reynolds
• one comment

Rewarding student research

Undergraduate students who dedicated long hours, late nights, and lots of caffeine to complete original research papers have the opportunity to further be recognized for their work. The Loyola University Libraries are accepting applications for their Research Paper Award, which will present the first- and second-place winners $500 and $250 prizes, respectively, during the University’s annual Weekend of Excellence in April.

Jeannette Pierce, head of references services at the Cudahy Library and Klarchek Information Commons, says this award was created to recognize students’ work beyond the classroom.

Pierce adds, “This award hopes to highlight some of the best of this scholarship, and also emphasize the relationship between that work and the library resources that made it possible.”

Eligible submissions are original research papers 2,100 to 7,000 words in length, written by only one author, that were completed within calender year 2011 as part of a Loyola course. Applicants must be currently enrolled in the University.

Additionally, a bibliography or works cited page should be attached to the paper, and the majority of sources used must be from the Loyola University Libraries. These can include, but are not limited to, primary sources, books, newspaper or journal articles, statistics from data archives, or government documents. Interlibrary loans are also acceptable.

To complement their paper, students must submit a one- to two-page statement detailing their research process, what types of library resources and services were used, what was conducting an extensive research project like, and any difficulties encountered during the process.

Students must also submit a brief letter from the Loyola professor who taught the class for which the research paper was written. The letter should explain the quality of the paper’s research and writing, and verify the applicant was enrolled in the course and wrote the paper to fulfill course requirements. The course name, number, and semester must be in the text.

The papers will be judged by a panel of librarians, Loyola professors, and members of the Friends of Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. Librarians on the selection committee are: Dr. Elizabeth Myers, director of the Women & Leadership Archives; Stephen Macksey, reference librarian; and Dr. Yolande Wersching, head of the Lewis Library.

All materials must be submitted either in print or electronically to Carol Franklin, library administration in Cudahy Library, room 133 or by e-mail to cfrankl@luc.edu by the deadline, March 2, 2012, at 5 p.m. Again, only undergraduate students currently enrolled in the University as of spring 2012 are eligible.

Winners will be notified April 13, 2012.

Pierce says, “The Libraries are excited about providing students with this additional opportunity for recognition that they can share with their faculty, friends, and family, and include on their resumes or applications for grants, fellowships, or graduate study.”

For a list of all the application materials, click here.