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.