Eligibility
The contest is open to all students registered in, or recently graduated from, a Canadian library school, a library technician program, an information science program (including distance education programs), or faculty of education library program.
Registered students may be full or part time; graduates should have completed their studies within one year of the competition’s closing date of March 31, annually. Articles submitted must be written while the student is enrolled in a program of study, or within one year of graduation.
Each contestant must submit a faculty member’s statement attesting to the fact that the article fulfills the above requirements.
Multiple-author papers are eligible, but in the event such a paper is selected, only one prize will be awarded.
Submissions may be in English or French.
Prize:
$200 choice of CLA/ALA publications.
The winning article will be published in the CLA’s Feliciter magazine. Winning articles in French would appear in both official languages.
Content and Style
Articles should discuss, analyse or evaluate, in a clear and readable style, timely issues in librarianship or information science. Conclusions and premises should follow logically, and statements should be supported. Essays or term papers should be reworked into an article suitable for publication. The style should be informal but informative. References, if required, should be drawn from Canadian sources as much as possible.
Originality
All manuscripts must be the original, unpublished work of the contestant(s). Entries must be submitted exclusively to the Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèques during the competition period.
Format for Submission
Manuscript length should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words, typewritten on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper, double spaced, with generous margins. One copy should be submitted electronically to the following address, no later than February 28, annually:
CLA Student Article Award
Canadian Library Association
1150 Morrison Drive
Suite 400
Ottawa, ON K2H 8S9
e-mail: info (at) cla.ca
Please Note: Include a separate page containing the following information: Full title of entry; name of the author(s); home address and telephone number; name of the program in which author(s) is/are registered; and a faculty member’s verification. This should be on letterhead of the institution in which author(s) is/are registered.
Judging
A panel of judges will read and evaluate all entries; additional evaluators may be called upon to assess submissions in French.
Judges look for originality; value and relevance of the information presented; consistency and accuracy; style and readability; and suitability for publication. If, in the opinion of the judges, no article submitted satisfies these criteria, the panel reserves the right to not select a winner.
CONTEST CLOSING DATE:February 28, Annually