Booth Library will be offering a new award this spring in recognition of excellence in student research and creativity.

Any Eastern student, or group of students, may submit their work for review whether it be school related or not, so the possibilities are literally endless.

Allen Lanham, dean of library services, said many departments on campus offer awards, but this is the most general.

“It can be class related but it doesn’t have to be. It could be that someone has written a play or story or musical composition, or designed an article of clothing or invented something,” Lanham said, “It’s up to the students to define the parameters of submissions.”

Lanham said he was motivated to allow all students an equal opportunity to have their work recognized.

“Sometimes the climate is right for people to have major ideas, and it really doesn’t fit in to the 15 credit hours they’re taking for that particular semester, so it could go unnoticed,” Lanham said.

Lanham said he expects to award multiple students for their efforts, but it depends on the quality of the submissions. Also, if no submission is considered to be of quality, then nothing will be awarded.

Lanham said this is a monetary award but the dollar amount is dependent upon the quality of the submissions.

The top prize is expected to be “in the neighborhood of $300,” Lanham said.

Although no submissions have been received thus far, Lanham said this was not unexpected.

“We expect them to come in very near the deadline,” Lanham said.

Submissions are required to meet a few criteria.

The work must have been done within the past 12 months, there must be some connection to library archive resources, each submission must include a bibliography, and submissions of written work must include five copies.

Submissions will be judged by the library advisory board, and department specialists may be asked to consult the board concerning specific submissions.

Tina Veale, associate professor of communication disorders and sciences, serves on the award committee.

“If the committee lacks the needed expertise to judge the merit of a submission, academicians from within the associated discipline will be consulted,” Veale said.

Selected submissions will become part of Booth Library’s student research and creativity collection, according to guidelines on Booth Library’s Web site.

“We’ll have an exhibit or a performance so that student initiative can be recognized, especially for those who receive this award,” Lanham said.

The deadline for submission is April 1 and a submission form is available on Booth’s Web Site.

“The application is as simple as it gets,” Lanham said.

Veale stressed the importance of the award.

“We have ambitious research and creative products generated right here at EIU, work that not only advances the learning of the students involved, but of our society as well,” Veale said. “One of the highest callings of the academy is to provide a forum for sharing our ideas and our work. This award encourages students to engage in this process, and encourages all of us to learn from one another.”

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or at jrhardimon2@eiu.edu.