MLA-EBSCO Collaboration for Information Literacy Prize FAQs

Eligibility

What is information literacy?

“Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning” (Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, adopted by the Board of the Association of College and Research Libraries [ACRL] in January 2016).

In what disciplines are courses eligible?

In any of the disciplines within the scope of the MLA International Bibliography, which indexes published scholarship in literature, language, linguistics, rhetoric and writing studies, dramatic arts, folklore, and the teaching of language and literature. For more detailed information as well as exceptions, please see the MLA International Bibliography Content page.

Do applicants have to be MLA members to be eligible?

No, neither instructor nor librarian has to be an MLA member to be considered.

Interested in becoming a member? Learn more about MLA membership.

Are there geographical restrictions?

No. Submissions are welcome from all parts of the world. To facilitate the prize committee’s review, we do require that submissions be made in English.

I’m an adjunct professor. I’ve developed my course in collaboration with a librarian who works part-time. Is our course still eligible?

Yes. Eligibility is not restricted by academic rank or employment status.

One or both of us no longer work at the institution where the course was offered. Can we still apply?

Yes. Simply indicate both the former and current affiliations in the application header.

What limits apply as to when the course took place?

So that learning outcomes can be included in the submission, the course must have concluded by the time of submission, but it should not have concluded before the start of the previous calendar year. In other words, for the 2021 cycle, for which submissions are due 30 June 2021, eligible courses will have concluded between 1 January 2020 and the date of submission.

How are submissions judged?

Submissions are judged by a committee of two faculty members and two academic librarians, appointed by the MLA Committee on Honors and Awards.

When will winners be announced?

Winners will be notified in the fall and will be announced in December.

Can the same course be submitted in more than one award cycle?

Yes, so long as the course has taken place within the eligibility period.

Can winners of the award submit in subsequent years?

Award winners become eligible again in the third year after their winning submission. However, a specific course that has already received the award cannot be resubmitted, unless it has changed substantially.

Application Form

How do I upload my proposal to the online application form?

Once you have filled out the fields, the application form will expand, and you will be prompted to attach your proposal.

After the Application

What is expected of prizewinners?

Prizewinners will be honored at the awards ceremony during the MLA Annual Convention, and their names will be posted on the MLA website and in related print and electronic materials. By submitting their materials, applicants consent to have their names included in the public listing of prizewinners and in other MLA materials; to have their abstract, course description, and syllabus deposited in CORE; and to make these materials free to reuse, copy, adapt, and share under a Creative Commons license.

MLA-EBSCO Collaboration for Information Literacy Prize FAQs

Eligibility

Application Form

After the Application

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