In April 2023 CoLRiC announced the call for nominations for our annual national awards. As part of our celebratory 30th anniversary celebrations we wanted to showcase ‘creativity, value and impact’ with submissions that demonstrated the quality, excellence and organisational impact of library and learning resource service provision on the teaching, learning and student experience. All nominations were reviewed, scored and shortlisted by a judging panel comprising an external library and information services expert and members of CoLRiC’s Executive Committee.
For the first time in CoLRiC’s history there was a double award win for Bradford College’s Learning Resources Team. The winner of its prestigious Jeff Cooper Inspirational Information Professional of the Year Award for 2023 was Lakshmi Banner, Library Services Team Leader at Bradford College. The winner of the Innovative Practice Award for 2023 was Bradford College Library for its ‘The Art of Problem Solving’ initiative, designed to develop skills to demystify maths and build resilience.
Both awards were presented during a staff award ceremony at Christmas (‘Winter Conference’) so the whole of college saw the library team receive the accolades. Tim Lupton (Head of Department for Learning Development and Innovation, including libraries) was present with Sarah Cooper, Director of People Services.
In recognition of its ‘Library Re-engagement’ initiative reconnecting students with the value and power of the library and its physical and digital resources, Hills Road Sixth Form College was also awarded Highly Commended for the Innovative Practice Award, 2023 and announced the news with well-deserved enthusiasm on their webpages.
Congratulations once again to everybody involved.