Purpose
The purpose of the awards is to recognize excellence in undergraduate and graduate research papers that incorporate extraordinary skill and creativity in the application of the services, resources, and collections of the ISU Library and that demonstrate information literacy skills on the part of the student researcher. Two awards, one given to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student, will be presented in the amount of $1000 for the undergraduate student and $1500 for the graduate student. In addition, $250 will be given to the faculty member who nominates a winning paper.

Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled as an ISU student at any class level and in any discipline.
• Have completed their research paper for a credit course at ISU during the spring semester 2007, first summer session 2007, second summer session 2007, or fall semester 2007.
• Agree that the paper and application materials will become property of Cunningham Memorial Library, may be publicly displayed or included in the digital repository, and may be cataloged and added to the library’s collection.
• Library student employees, staff, and faculty are not eligible to enter.
• Dissertations, theses, and works of fiction are not eligible for consideration.

Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be judged based on how well they demonstrate the following:

• Sophistication, originality and/or unusual depth or breadth in the use of library resources and collections in any format.
• 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
  • Communicating information in formats appropriate to an academic audience
  • Making responsible use of information by providing appropriate and accurate citations and credits.
• Evidence of significant personal learning and an understanding of the process of research and inquiry
• Papers will be reviewed for originality in Turnitin.
• Submissions will be evaluated by two librarians and by teaching faculty nominated by deans of the appropriate colleges. The library reserves the right not to bestow awards in the absence of acceptable submissions.

Application Procedure
Applications must include the following:

• Application cover sheet
• Application checklist
• Nomination form and letter of 250 words or fewer from the supervising faculty member or instructor
• A 500-750 word essay by the student who wrote the research paper. The essay should describe research strategies and application of library tools and resources in completion of the project.
• A final version of the research paper
• A bibliography or source list
• An electronic copy of the final research paper and bibliography or source list

Application deadline: 14 February, 2008 by 4:00 P.M. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications become the property of the ISU Library and will not be returned. When preparing your application package, please do not use staples, bind projects, or put projects in 3-ring binders. Use paper clips, envelopes, or folders.

Submit the complete application package to:

Indiana State University
Cunningham Memorial Library
650 Sycamore St.
Library Administration
Research Award Committee
Terre Haute, IN 47809

E-mail an electronic copy of final research paper and bibliography to: Beverly Grubb at bgrubb1@isugw.indstate.edu

  Cunningham Memorial Library, 650 Sycamore St., Terre Haute, IN 47809   812.237.2580
  Updated August 23rd, 2007     Maintained by: Library Systems
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