Applications are invited for the Daphne Clark Prize by practitioners who have made a useful and timely contribution to research in its field. The Prize is named after Daphne Clark, a founder member of LIRG and Chair of the Group when she died in 1983, who actively promoted excellence in library and information research through her own work.

The Prize is worth �500 and entries will be judged each year by a panel made up of members of the Library and Information Research Group. The judging panel will be looking for evidence of successful innovation based upon sound and transferable research methods. The Prize is intended to encourage the use of sound methodologies in practitioner based library and information research and to encourage wider dissemination of small studies conducted by practitioners.

Entries are acceptable from any individuals or staff teams who have conducted practitioner based research. Candidates can also be nominated by their employer. Entries should consist of a short summary (2000-5000 words) of the research activity, method, and outcomes. Any sort of research project can be nominated but externally funded projects are not eligible. The research must have been completed within the last two years. Applications should include the name of the candidate(s), a contact address, and a brief CV. Candidates must also be prepared to provide further evidence of the work undertaken (e.g. working papers, reports, committee papers etc) if required.

Prizewinners are required to submit a short report describing their research within three months of receiving the Prize. This will be published in the Group's journal, Library & Information Research News or publicised as considered appropriate by the judging panel. If the research findings have been previously published, then the report submitted for Library and Information Research News must demonstrate originality.

Previous prize winners include:

• Sally Rumsey and Jon Maslin, University of Surrey, for their research on exam papers on-line
• Alison Bremner, Open University for her report on their Students and Libraries Project
• Frances Boyle, Liverpool University for her report on the University of Liverpool's Document Delivery Research Project
• A project team led by Margaret Weaver, Huddersfield University, examined the effects of using supplied classification numbers and subject headings on throughput, cost, and subject retrievability of new acquisitions

The closing date for applications is 31st December each year and the prizewinner will be announced at the Group's AGM in March.

Applications should be sent to:
Noeleen Cookman
Ground Floor Flat, 72 Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, Middx, HA1 2RZ
Tel: 07739 297103
Email: [email protected]