Libraries Announces Friends of the Library Undergraduate Research Award

NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          DATE: 10/14/08

CONTACT: LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATION ASST., (413) 545-0162

UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES ANNOUNCES

Friends of the Library Undergraduate Research Award

Amherst, MA - The Friends of the Library and the Library’s Department of Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) announce a new award for undergraduates at UMass Amherst. The Friends of the Library Undergraduate Research Award will recognize excellence in the use of primary sources. Students are invited to submit papers or projects they have completed at UMass Amherst during the 18 months prior to the submission deadline of February 13, 2009.  Winners will be announced in mid-March; the first place award is $750, with two honorable mention awards at $250 each. 

All undergraduate students enrolled at UMass Amherst are eligible.  Projects must represent work completed for a class or independent study in any field within the 18 months prior to the application deadline.  Criteria will be based on use of primary sources, creativity and originality, and clarity and effectiveness of writing.

A primary source is a record of an event, an occurrence, or a time period produced by a participant or observer at the time, such as letters, diaries, journals, writings, speeches, photographs, scrapbooks, etc., or the historic records (archives) of an organization (such as correspondence, memoranda, minutes, annual reports, etc.).  Primary sources can also include government documents, artwork, artifacts, maps, music, audiovisual materials (film, audio and video tape), and electronic computer files.

The first place winner and a guest will be invited to attend the Friends of the Library annual Dinner with Friends in early April 2009.  All winning papers/projects will be displayed on the SCUA web site and added to the University Archives. 

For more information about the award and to apply:  http://ncane.com/m2m or questions: Danielle Kovacs, 413-545-2784, askanarc@library.umass.edu.