Canadian Library Association Announces Winners of the 26th Student Article Contest

(Ottawa, April 30, 2009) – The Member Communications Advisory Committee of the Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèques (CLA/ACB) is pleased to announce Manuela Boscenco as the winner of the CLA/ACB’s 26th Student Article Contest for "Strictly Business: Providing Access to Digital Images".

The controversy surrounding digital rights management, copyright fair-use provisions, and licensing of electronic resources provides a dramatic backdrop for this energetic paper. The Advisory Committee considered her entry a thoughtful, refreshing and relevant analysis of a timely topic, written from an original perspective.

Manuela will be awarded a cash prize as well as free registration, accommodation and transportation to the CLA/ACB 2009 National Conference and Tradeshow in Montreal, Quebec, May 29- June 1, 2009.

The first runner-up is Robyn Hall for "Exposing Open Access (OA): In Support of OA Journals in Academic Libraries”. The article explores the state of open access journals in Canada today, with emphasis on their underutilized potential in scholarly research. Robyn will receive a cash prize courtesy of the Wosk Family and a choice of CLA/ACB publications.

The second runner-up is Faith Roebuck Shergold for "Humanistic, Critical Librarianship: Information Professionals and Advocacy". This entry analyzes librarians’ social advocacy role, arguing that LIS educators have an important obligation to ensure that new professionals are prepared to act on behalf of those whose voice often goes unheard. Faith will also receive a cash prize courtesy of the Wosk Family and a choice of CLA/ACB publications.

“This year, there were a great many excellent entries to the Student Article Contest and judging was time-consuming but eminently enjoyable” noted Darcy Hiltz, Convenor of the Member Communications Advisory Committee. Darcy continued, “The winning article will appear in a future issue of Feliciter, and I am sure readers will appreciate its’ high calibre”.

The prizes are awarded courtesy of CLA, Micromedia ProQuest, Coutts Information Services and the Wosk Family Bursary. Entries are judges by CLA’s Member Communication Advisory Committee which is comprised of librarians and information professionals.

The Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèquesis Canada’s largest national and broad-based library association, representing the interests of public, academic, school and special libraries, professional librarians and library workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians through information and literacy.

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Media Contact: Darcy Hiltz, Convenor of the Member Communications Advisory Committee, Email: darcy_hiltz@yahoo.ca