The Dr. Joseph J. Bulmer Award for Excellence in Library Research is an annual award administered by The Foundation. The recipient is chosen by the college librarians after thorough examination of all nominated papers according to award criteria. Papers are accepted from both faculty and students and are submitted online* (see below).
To be eligible for the Bulmer Award, the initial criteria are as follows:
- “A” paper
- 5 or more sources
- 2 or more source types (source types defined as periodicals, academic journals, magazines, books, websites, interviews, as examples)
If a nominated paper meets these minimum initial criteria, the librarians further examine the quality of the research in terms of:
- extensiveness of bibliography (example: 8 credible sources preferred over 5 credible sources).
- mix of source types (example: 5 or more source types carry more weight in evaluation than 2 or 3 source types). The award seeks evidence of initiative, persistence and ingenuity in identifying sources in varying formats.
- critical thinking in the evaluation of the sources for reliability, credibility and appropriateness for subject matter.
What often distinguishes a recipient’s research paper from other nominees’ is the presence of proper academic formatting and citation. These methods of research paper formatting and citation include, but are not limited to, MLA (Modern Language Association 8th ed.), commonly used in English and Humanities; APA (American Psychological Association 6th ed.), widely used in the Social Sciences; and Chicago Manual, used in History studies.
What students can do and what faculty can emphasize:
- Students are encouraged to refer to the Dwight Marvin Library’s Cite Your Sources guide, among the library’s most heavily used research guides.
- It is strongly recommended that students make use of the Writing and Research Center’s faculty expertise as well as the option of making a research appointment with a librarian.
For more information on selection criteria, to submit a paper online, or to review past recipients and more, visit the Dr. Joseph J. Bulmer Award for Excellence in Library Research subject guide. For additional information, contact Librarian Valerie Lang Waldin, J.D., M.L.S. at v.waldin@hvcc.edu, MRV 141, 518.629.7319.
Published: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:51:50 +0000 by v.waldin