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Library Research Prize
McKenna Library is pleased to announce the first year of the Library Research Prize. 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). 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 Holy Cross College course during the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 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 one librarian, your course faculty and two additional faculty reviewers will evaluate reflections using the same four areas described below.
- Submission Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026
• Award Announcement: Thursday, April 30, 2026Projects completed in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 courses are eligible for submission
- One Award: $500
- 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?
💡 Tip: Briefly explain how your ideas or interpretations developed as your research deepened.
- Information Literacy & Search Strategy (25 points)
Show how you located and assessed your information:
– Which databases, collections, or search tools did you use—and 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?
💡 Tip: Reflect on what helped you search more effectively or evaluate information more critically.
- 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—books, articles, media, primary sources, or data?
– In what ways did the library shape, expand, or refine your final work?
💡 Tip: The library is more than a building—it’s a learning partner. Show how it helped you make discoveries or solve challenges.
- 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—intellectual curiosity, integrity, creativity, and service to others?
💡 Tip: A strong reflection connects the research process to your personal and academic growth.
✅ Reflective essay (600–900 words)
✅ Project or creative work with complete bibliography
✅ Faculty endorsement or course confirmation form
✅ 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
Evaluator Rubric
Committee: 4 faculty — course faculty, Tom Spencer, Angel Cortes and Lori Harding. Alternate: Laura LeGare (if the student’s course faculty is already named).
Each evaluator scores 4 categories (25 pts each; total 100). Final score: average of all evaluators. Tiebreaker: Categories 2 & 3 (Information Literacy, Library Engagement).
| Category | Focus | Key Indicators | Pts (0–25) |
| 1. Scholarly Quality & Depth | Purpose, rigor, and originality. | • Clear question or creative focus • Logical structure • Integration of evidence • Original or disciplinary insight |
☐ |
| 2. Information Literacy & Search Strategy | Finding and using information effectively. | • Clear, repeatable search • Relevant, peer-reviewed sources • Evaluates authority & credibility • Accurate citation style |
☐ |
| 3. Library Engagement & Resource Integration | Depth of library use and collaboration. | • Consulted librarian or used ILL • Database/collection use • Integrated varied formats • Reflection on library impact |
☐ |
| 4. Reflection & Mission Alignment | Growth, communication, and values. | • Organized, thoughtful writing • Evidence of learning • Connects to mission: curiosity, integrity, creativity, service |
☐ |
Scoring Summary
| Evaluator | Role | Total (100) | Comments |
| ☐ Library Faculty | ☐ /100 | ||
| ☐ Course Faculty | ☐ /100 | ||
| ☐ Faculty 3 | ☐ /100 | ||
| ☐ Faculty 4 | ☐ /100 |
Final Score: Average of all four evaluators
Evaluator Notes
Focus on research process and library engagement, not only results. Look for growth, curiosity, and creative library use. Brief comments encouraged.
Theology
– “Borrowed Sensation” (Luke Reynolds, ND 2025)
Medieval mysticism + neuroscience. Library: primary texts, theology commentaries, psych databases.
Full text: https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2025-20000-40000-2nd-ReynoldsLuke-essay.pdf
Psychology/Sociology
– “Advocacy or Family Relations?” (Bupe Kabaghe, ND 2024)
Political science + gender. Library: global studies databases, comparative politics journals.
https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2024-thesis-capstone-2nd-KabagheBupeLughano-essay.pdf
Biomedical
– Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome (ND 2024 group)
Rare disease research. Library: medical databases, ILL.
https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2024-group-FriedmanBrooke-DiazDavid-essay.pdf
Art/Architecture
– “A Building Arts College for Arequipa, Peru” (Alexandra Indacochea, ND 2024)
Architecture/design. Library: image archives, architectural databases.
https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2024-nfcds-IndacocheaAlexandra-essay.pdf
Math/Physics
– AI Detection of Skin Cancer (Michael Li, ND 2025)
CS/ML + biomedical. Library: software support, journal access.
https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2025-20000-40000-1st-LiMichael-essay.pdf
Comprehensive Library Use Example
– “Effects of Birth Rates on China’s Agricultural Economy” (JohnPaul Mitiguy, ND 2024)
Econ-demography. Library: consultations, OneSearch, JSTOR, Gale, SpringerLink, ILL.
Full text: https://library-research-award.library.nd.edu/docs/LRA2024-10000-2nd-MitiguyJohnPaul-essay.pdf