Application Requirements

All materials are submitted electronically. Here are the materials you need to submit. As part of the application process you must provide the following information:

• The name of a faculty reference (the faculty member most familiar with the paper/project and your research). We strongly suggest you talk to your professor about your submission BEFORE you submit your paper. 
• Your paper or project in electronic format (PDF file, Web address/Web page, etc). If you have a multimedia or three dimensional project contact sek2@lehigh.edu for instructions.
• The course name and number and a copy of the assignment for your paper or project (the written assignment instructions from your professor).
• As part of the application process you must indicate that you are available to attend a reception in the Spring of the year that the prize is awarded if you are awarded a prize. There are a few exemptions...
  • Students who are studying abroad the spring semester that the award is made.
  • Students who are December graduates (the December immediately preceding the Spring).

    Attending the reception may be waived under *extenuating circumstances,* at the discretion of the selection committee.

   

• The research experience description. You must describe your research experience in preparing the paper or project, either in writing or via an informal interview.
  • The written essay option: The 500-700 word essay should describe the the research process and experience.
  • The interview option: Applicants who are finalists for the award may be contacted by a member of the evaluation committee for a brief interview about the library research process used in completing the project.

Written Essay

The 500-700 word essay will help the committee to understand how you went about doing library research for your submission/project. The essay is optional, but if you do not complete the essay the committee may contact you for a brief interview about the library research you did in completing the project. The interview may be in person or by phone, and will last approximately 10 minutes.

If you prepare an essay, following these questions guide you in deciding what to write about. You are not restricted to these questions.

• In what ways did using the library influence the development of your ideas for this project?
• What did you discover about the tools and techniques for research?
• What challenges did you face in conducting research? Did you have trouble finding some kinds of information?
• What did you learn about finding, selecting, and evaluating information on your topic or in the discipline?
• What lessons about the research process did you take away from the experience?

The Interview

The purpose of the ten minute interview is to help the committee to understand how you went about doing library research for your submission/project. The interview may be in person or by phone, and will last approximately 10 minutes. The interview is informal. Below are the kinds of information the committee would like to know about...

• In what ways did using the library influence the development of your ideas for this project?
• What did you discover about the tools and techniques for research?
• What challenges did you face in conducting research? Did you have trouble finding some kinds of information?
• What did you learn about finding, selecting, and evaluating information on your topic or in the discipline?
• What lessons about the research process did you take away from the experience?

Remember you don't have to do an interview! You can submit a 500-700 essay on your research experience instead.

Return to the Libraries Student Research Prize main page.