University of North Carolina Wilmington chosen as the 2024 recipient of the LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award

CHICAGO – The Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) is please to announce the Randall Library at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) is the recipient of the 2024 Innovation in Instruction Award.

The competitive LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award acknowledges libraries for their exceptional contributions to information literacy and instruction. The award is given to libraries that exhibit innovative and cost-effective library instruction programs and/or methods that can be readily reproduced by other libraries. The award committee selected Randall Library at UNCW because of its creative and approach to first-year information literacy instruction program, which employs scenario-based learning along with high impact practices. The modules developed as a part of the program are adaptable by other libraries and are shared with the community via Canvas Commons. 

In reaction to receiving the award, Information Literacy Librarian Brittany O’Neill, the lead on the team’s project, said, “We are deeply honored to receive the LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award. This project builds on the work of many others who have shaped information literacy instruction at UNCW. I am proud of how my colleagues in Randall Library, Distance Education and eLearning, and University College came together to address the needs of our students and instructors in new ways. The feedback we have received thus far has shown that these course-integrated lesson plans are timely, impactful, and adaptable. Our collaboration demonstrates the benefits of shared responsibility for information literacy, and we are excited to share this project with others to impact student success beyond our campus. We acknowledge the competitiveness of this award and are humbled by the recognition.”  

LIRT was started in 1977 with the intent to bring together librarians who provide library instruction across all types of libraries–academic, public, school, and special. 2024 marks the 11th year the Librarian Recognition Award has been awarded. Recipients of the LIRT Innovation in Instruction and Librarian Recognition Award receive a $1,000 cash award, a plaque, and a $500 travel stipend to be used toward attending the ALA Annual Conference. This year’s recipients will be honored during a ceremony at the ALA Annual Conference in San Diego, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 30, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Visit LIRT's webpage to find out more about LIRT, its mission, and the awards. 

The LIRT Librarian Recognition Awards Subcommittee includes: Kimberly Shotick of Northern Illinois University (chair), Teresa Copeland of Grand Canyon University, Sarena Hicks of Nova Southeastern University, and Kelly Marie Banyas of Washington College. 

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