海角直播

McKenna Library is pleased to announce the second year of the Library Research Prize.听 This initiative, generously funded by the estate of Grace Smith was developed by professors Thomas Spencer (archivist), Angel Cortes (humanities chair), and Lori Harding (library director).听 The LRP recognizes outstanding student research and creative projects that demonstrate meaningful and effective use of library resources and services.

If you completed a paper, presentation, project, or creative work for a 海角直播 course during the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semesters, you are invited to submit a reflective essay describing your research process and learning experience.

Your reflection should tell the story of your work: how your topic took shape, how you explored library materials and tools, what strategies helped you locate and evaluate information, and what you learned about yourself as a researcher. The essay should emphasize the process behind your project as much as the final outcome.

A review committee consisting of 3 faculty reviewers will evaluate reflections using the same four areas described below.

• Submission Deadline: Friday, April 2, 2027 at 11:59 pm.
• Award Announcement: Thursday, April 21, 2027.听 Projects completed in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 courses are eligible for submission

• 1st prize: $500, 2^nd听Prize: $250 (if more than 6 applications)

1. Scholarly Quality & Depth (25 points)

Describe your project and its intellectual foundations:
– What question or problem guided your research?
– How did you select or refine your focus?
– What kinds of evidence or examples supported your argument or design?
– What makes your work original, relevant, or significant within your discipline or course?

馃挕 Tip: Briefly explain how your ideas or interpretations developed as your research deepened.

2. Information Literacy & Search Strategy (25 points)

Show how you located and assessed your information:
– Which databases, collections, or search tools did you use鈥攁nd why?
– How did you refine your searches (keywords, subject terms, filters, or advanced search options)?
– How did you determine whether a source was credible, scholarly, or peer-reviewed?
– How did you organize and format your citations to keep your references accurate and consistent?

馃挕 Tip: Reflect on what helped you search more effectively or evaluate information more critically.

3. Library Engagement & Resource Integration (25 points)

Explain how you used the library and its services to support your project:
– Did you meet or correspond with a librarian for help developing your topic or finding materials?
– Did you request materials through interlibrary loan (ILL) or explore specialized collections or databases?
– How did you combine materials from multiple formats鈥攂ooks, articles, media, primary sources, or data?
– In what ways did the library shape, expand, or refine your final work?

馃挕 Tip: The library is more than a building鈥攊t鈥檚 a learning partner. Show how it helped you make discoveries or solve challenges.

4. Reflection, Communication & Mission Alignment (25 points)

Conclude by reflecting on your overall learning experience:
– What was most challenging or surprising about your research?
– How has your approach to finding and using information changed?
– What did you learn about persistence, curiosity, or critical thinking?
– How does your project reflect the Holy Cross mission鈥攊ntellectual curiosity, integrity, creativity, and service to others?

馃挕 Tip: A strong reflection connects the research process to your personal and academic growth.

鉁� Reflective essay (600鈥�900 words)
鉁� Project or creative work with complete bibliography
鉁� Consistent citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, or discipline-appropriate format)

Projects that demonstrate:
– Clear and original thinking
– Effective and creative use of library resources and services
– Critical engagement with information and reflection on learning
– Growth, curiosity, and authenticity

Committee: 3 faculty reviewers
Each evaluator scores 4 categories (25 pts each; total 100). Final score: average of all evaluators. Tiebreaker: Categories 2 & 3 (Information Literacy, Library Engagement).

Focus on research process and library engagement, not only results. Look for growth, curiosity, and creative library use.

Theology
– 鈥淏orrowed Sensation鈥� (Luke Reynolds, ND 2025)
Medieval mysticism + neuroscience. Library: primary texts, theology commentaries, psych databases.
Full text:

Psychology/Sociology
– 鈥淎dvocacy or Family Relations?鈥� (Bupe Kabaghe, ND 2024)
Political science + gender. Library: global studies databases, comparative politics journals.

Biomedical
– Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome (ND 2024 group)
Rare disease research. Library: medical databases, ILL.

Art/Architecture
– 鈥淎 Building Arts College for Arequipa, Peru鈥� (Alexandra Indacochea, ND 2024)
Architecture/design. Library: image archives, architectural databases.

Math/Physics
– AI Detection of Skin Cancer (Michael Li, ND 2025)
CS/ML + biomedical. Library: software support, journal access.

Comprehensive Library Use Example
– 鈥淓ffects of Birth Rates on China鈥檚 Agricultural Economy鈥� (JohnPaul Mitiguy, ND 2024)
Econ-demography. Library: consultations, OneSearch, JSTOR, Gale, SpringerLink, ILL.
Full text: