Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible?
How many prizes will be awarded?
When must I submit my application materials?
Why is the deadline so early in the semester?
Where should I submit my application materials?
Must my project include a bibliography?
What if my paper/project is not completed by the
deadline? May I submit a draft?
My project was completed for a course that took
place before the stated period of eligibility. Can you make an exception
and consider my project for this year's Prize?
May I submit more than one research project
into competition?
What about group/team projects?
Would an independent study course qualify for
this competition?
May I apply for the prize if I work for a Temple
library?
What about Web-based or digital projects?
Will projects be judged anonymously?
What will the judges be looking for?
If my project is in a language other than
English, will it be eligible?
Why should I compete for this prize, and what
happens if I win?
What are my chances of winning?
Why did the Library establish this prize?
Who is eligible?
Any Temple undergraduate who completes a research paper or project as
part of a for-credit class at Temple University during the Spring 2009,
Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010 semesters, and who is
enrolled, i.e. taking a class or classes, in the Spring 2010 semester is
eligible. Please see the Eligibility
requirements for more information.
How many prizes will be awarded?
Up to three $1,000 cash prizes will be awarded, and up to two honorable
mentions will be recognized, in 2010.
When must I submit my application
materials?
All application materials for the 2010 prize must be submitted by
Monday, March 29, 2010 (tentative) at 5:00 p.m. See How to Apply for more
information.
Why is the deadline so early in the
spring semester?
There are good reasons for what might seem to some to be an early
deadline. In order to hold the award ceremony and reception before
students leave for the summer we need to set the deadline several weeks
before the end of the semester. We want students to get as far along as
possible on their projects while allowing the librarian and faculty
judges the time they need to review and judge the submissions. If we set
the Prize deadline any later in the semester we would have trouble
getting faculty to commit, as they will have their own papers to read.
While the research project is certainly important, remember that the
library research process is the primary focus of the Prize. Therefore,
for judging purposes, the most important part of the application is the
essay describing the research strategy and process, not the project
itself. This is why we accept spring semester drafts for Prize
consideration. Rest assured that drafts receive the same consideration
as completed projects. In addition, beginning in 2010, projects
completed for the previous spring semester (Spring 2009) are now
eligible, further ensuring the viability of projects undertaken in a
spring semester.
Where should I submit my application
materials?
Applications must be EITHER
(1) hand delivered in hard copy to the Office of the Dean of Libraries
on the mezzanine level of Paley Library, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday (check the Libraries' Web site for possible exceptions to the regular
hours), OR (2) submitted online via the Library Prize Blackboard site.
Submissions will not be accepted after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 29,
2010.
Must my project
include a bibliography?
Yes. All submissions must include a properly formatted bibliography in a
recognized style (MLA, APA, etc.). A bibliography is mandatory
regardless of whether or not your professor originally required it.
Check out the Libraries' Citation
Management libguide for help creating your bibliography.
What if my paper/project is not
completed by the deadline? May I submit a draft?
A spring semester draft may be submitted on or before March 29, 2010, in
lieu of the final paper or project. For judging purposes, the more
complete a project is the better. However, rest assured that drafts
receive the same consideration as completed projects. To be awarded the
Prize, winning students must submit the final versions of their projects
at least two weeks prior to the award ceremony.
My project was completed for a
course that took place before this year's period of eligibility. Can you
make an exception and consider my project for this year's Prize?
No, but beginning in 2010 projects completed for the previous spring
semester (Spring 2009) are now eligible. Note also that a research
project can only be submitted into competition once. In other words, a
student who has already submitted a Spring 2009 project into competition
cannot resubmit that same project the following year. Please refer to
the Eligibility
requirements for more information.
May I submit more than one
research project into competition?
Yes. A student may submit more than one research project into
competition. However, a student may not win more than one prize per
academic year.
What about group/team projects?
Groups or teams of researchers may submit their projects into
competition. Each team member must make a substantial contribution to
the paper or project. If a team project wins, the cash award will be
distributed equally among team members.
Would an independent study course
qualify for this competition?
Yes, any for credit course offered at Temple University would qualify.
May I apply for the prize if I work for
a Temple library?
Yes. Students will not be excluded from competition because of current
or past library employment.
What about Web-based or digital
projects?
Web-based or digital projects are encouraged. For additional information
on submitting digital projects, please see How to Apply.
Will projects be judged anonymously?
No. Research projects will be judged impartially but not anonymously by
a committee composed of librarians and faculty.
What will the judges be looking for?
Submissions are judged by a seven-member selection committee. The
committee is composed of four librarians and three faculty members,
including one faculty member each from the sciences, social sciences,
and humanities. Submissions will be judged according to the following
criteria:
- originality, depth, breadth or sophistication in the use of library collections
- exceptional ability to select, evaluate, and synthesize library resources and to successfully use them in the creation of a project in any media
- evidence of personal growth through the acquisition of newfound knowledge.
While the research project is certainly important, it is crucial
to remember that the library research process is the primary focus of
the Prize. Therefore, for judging purposes, the key part of the
application is the essay describing the research strategy and process,
not the project itself. View the Essay
Tips for a more extensive understanding of what to include in your
essay. You may also want to look at the Evaluation Criteria
and Evaluation
Rubrics judges use to aid in their evaluation of the essay and the
research project. While the criteria and rubrics do not provide
instructions on how to write the essay, they do provide a sense of the
kinds of things judges are looking for.
If my project is in a language other
than English, will it be eligible?
Projects in non-English languages may be submitted, but the accompanying
essay must be in English. Additionally, submissions of
works in other languages may benefit from the inclusion of an English
translation.
Why should I compete for this
prize, and what happens if I win?
The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research acknowledges a high level
of achievement in research and scholarship. The award enhances the
winner's resume and graduate school application. Each winning project
also receives a $1,000 cash prize. Students who submit winning projects
will be recognized at an award ceremony and reception that is held late
in the spring semester. At this ceremony winners will be asked to give
very brief presentations focusing on their research and collaboration
with faculty.
What are my chances of winning?
All applicants have an equal chance of winning regardless of their
major, class level, choice of research topic, or past employment with
the library or other institution at Temple University.
Why did the Library establish this
prize?
The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research was established by Temple
University Libraries to encourage more and better use of its resources
and collections, to advance
Information Literacy at Temple, and to promote academic excellence at
Temple University.

