Evaluation Criteria for the Library Prize

Illustrative Examples

The emphasis for the Library Prize is on the research process, as evidenced in the research
essay. Each of the criteria should be assessed in terms of whether the student has exhibited
beginning, competent or excellent skills in the context of their topic, assignment, and discipline.
This document illustrates some of the competitive factors that judges might consider. However,
students are not necessarily required to exhibit these particular examples to attain a skill level.

Beginning Competent Excellent

The Process

Thesis develops a relevant develops a manageable modifies thesis to

thesis for the course & scope & focus; poses an incorporate initial findings
assignment interesting question or & surprising insights
problem

Search Tools uses basic tools such as uses more tools, such as uses complex tools such
the library catalog, disciplinary databases, as Worldcat,
search engines, & full electronic journals, archival finding aids and
text databases reference indexes or specialized databases
bibliographies

Search uses keyword searching modifies searches modifies searches

Techniques with Boolean operators iteratively; identifies new
& truncation; browses keywords including
call number ranges synonyms, related terms,
variant spellings; uses
subject headings; follows
footnotes & references
iteratively; uses search
limits; identifies key
authors; follows footnotes
& references iteratively;
uses cited reference
searching

uses Temple’s digs deeper into Temple's exploits Temple's

Library collections superficially collections & services collections & services to
Collections their fullest
The Sources

Types & uses basic sources: adds other source types seeks out a variety of
Formats books, websites used in the discipline source types used in the
discipline

possible source types include books, articles, conferences, government

documents, dissertations, archives, manuscripts, technical reports, working
papers, statistics, data sets & audiovisual materials

Source: UC, Berkeley, Library Prize for Undergraduate Research (w/ slight modification) 1
 Beginning Competent Excellent

Depth & Breadth finds obvious references finds references from a finds references from
from familiar sources variety of sources & multiple perspectives,
disciplines pursuing comprehensive
coverage

Evaluation & assesses the relevance valuates the quality of carefully evaluates
Selection of sources, which sources, which generally the quality of sources,
generally apply to the support the thesis which strongly support the
topic thesis

Evaluation of the sources would take into consideration the authority, accuracy,
currency, coverage, and potential bias in the sources as well as the overall
appropriateness and relevance to thesis

Citation Style cites all materials, but cites or credits all cites or credits all
not in a standard or materials in a consistent materials correctly in a
consistent way way, for the most part standard format, including
annotations or notes as
appropriate

The Project

Synthesis connects several ideas draws on multiple ideas synthesizes ideas from
from a few sources to from several sources to many sources to reach
the thesis form conclusions original conclusions or
novel insights

Originality interesting topic but not a highly imaginative topic a new twist on previous
very original or approach research; an original
contribution to the field
The Learning

Understanding develops a basic develops a deeper develops a thorough

understanding of understanding understanding that seems
library research likely to persist

Initiative closely guided by faculty fairly independent highly independent

& librarian at all stages throughout, though throughout, though
of research seeking advice when seeking advice when
necessary necessary

Source: UC, Berkeley, Library Prize for Undergraduate Research (w/ slight modification) 2