Libraries wins LITA/Library Hi Tech Award

The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) and Emerald Group Publishing Limited have named the NC State University Libraries as the 2019 recipient of the LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication for Continuing Education in Library and Information Science. The award recognizes the Libraries’ work around the Data Science and Visualization Institute for Librarians (DSVIL).

Awarded annually since 1993, this award may be given to an individual or institution for a single seminal work, or a body of work, taking place within (or continuing into) the five years preceding the award. It honors an outstanding achievement in educating the profession about cutting-edge technology through communication in continuing education within the field of library and information technology. The award provides a stipend of $1,000 and will be presented at the LITA President's Program at the ALA Annual Conference.

During DSVIL’s week-long course, librarians who are passionate about research and scholarship. develop knowledge, skills, and confidence to communicate effectively with faculty and student researchers about their data and to provide initial consultancy on course topics. Librarians engage in immersive learning about data science and visualization in collaboration with academic peers through interactive sessions and hands-on workshops.

“In launching DSVIL, we wanted to develop a community of practice, to essentially deepen the capacity of our profession, in the areas of data science and visualization,” says Jennifer Garrett, Director, Talent Management. “It has been really rewarding to see these efforts bear fruit.”

“The program has connected librarians around the globe, from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, who were passionate about developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to communicate effectively with their researchers. Many have even gone on to implement their own data training programs or have created data science positions at their home institutions. For us, DSVIL has provided the necessary opportunities to shift perceptions of where a library fits as a contributing member of the research enterprise and has enabled librarians to become catalysts in emerging and competitive research processes.”