ALA LHRT

Call for Submissions: Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award

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The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) invites submissions for the Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award, named in honor of ALA’s first president, the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer. This award is given annually and recognizes the best essay written in English on library history. The winner will receive a certificate, a $500 cash award, and an invitation to have their essay considered for publication in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society.

Criteria

Manuscripts submitted should not be previously published, previously submitted for publication, or under consideration for publication or another award. To be considered, essays should

  • embody original historical research on a significant topic in library history
  • be based on primary sources whenever possible
  • use good English composition and superior style.

The Library History Round Table is particularly interested in works that place the subject within its broader historical, social, cultural, and political context and make interdisciplinary connections.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the submission guidelines for Libraries: Culture, History, and Society when formatting their manuscripts. Submissions should conform to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, using the author-date system, and should not exceed thirty typewritten, double-spaced pages.

Submissions and Selection

Applicants must submit their manuscripts electronically. Applications must be received by Thursday April 30th. The application deadline is firm; submissions received after the deadline will not be forwarded to the committee.

Please upload your manuscripts electronically via the web form: LHRT Justin Winsor Award Submission Form.

Interested applicants can direct inquiries to Rachel Trnka, Justin Winsor Award Committee Chair, rachel.trnka@ucf.edu; please include “LHRT Winsor Award” in the subject line.

Reminder: Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award submission deadline 2/20

trnkarLeave a comment

The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) invites submissions for the Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award. The Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award is given annually to recognize the best essay written in English on library history. The award is named in honor of the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA’s first president. It consists of a certificate and a $500 cash award, as well as an invitation to have the winner’s essay considered for publication in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society.

Manuscripts submitted should not be previously published, previously submitted for publication, or under consideration for publication or another award. To be considered, essays should embody original historical research on a significant topic in library history, be based on primary sources whenever possible, and use good English composition and superior style. The Library History Round Table is particularly interested in works that place the subject within its broader historical, social, cultural, and political context and make interdisciplinary connections with print culture and information studies.

Essays should be organized in a form similar to that of articles published in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society and conform to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Papers should not exceed thirty-five typewritten, double-spaced pages (plus endnotes and references).

Applicants must submit their manuscripts electronically. Applications must be received by February 20, 2025. The application deadline is firm, and any submissions received after the deadline will not be forwarded to the committee.

Please upload your manuscripts electronically via the web form: https://airtable.com/shrYdO92X6tfTW3oe

Interested applicants can direct inquiries to Rachel Edford Trnka, Justin Winsor Award Committee Chair, rachel.trnka@ucf.edu. Please include “LHRT Winsor Award” in the subject line.