The CoLRiC Executive Committee is delighted to announce that 2021 nominations are now open for the:
- CoLRiC Innovative Practice Award
- Jeff Cooper Inspirational Information Professional of the Year Award
A significant CoLRiC membership benefit is the eligibility to nominate a team or individual for these two prestigious annual awards. We are committed to acknowledging and celebrating exemplary practice and innovation across the FE and Sixth Form College sector.
We are looking for applications from teams or individuals that can demonstrate the value and impact of their service provision in any capacity. We want to showcase creativity, resourcefulness, enterprise and ingenuity in service delivery.
The CoLRiC Innovative Practice Award was formerly known as the Best Practice Award (BPA.) This year we are keen to acknowledge and celebrate how you have responded to the challenges of COVID-19. Perhaps you modified an existing service, or launched a new initiative? Will the resources and services you delivered during the pandemic influence and shape library and learning resource services in the post lockdown world? We are looking for inspiring and creative teamwork and initiatives, ‘lockdown-centric’ nominations that reflect the adaptability of the profession in adverse circumstances. We are delighted that this year’s CoLRiC Innovative Practice Award is sponsored by IS Oxford.
Executive Committee member Sue Eaton comments:
We’re keen to encourage CoLRiC members to submit projects that have a strong focus on the future; learning from, rather than being restricted by the effects of the pandemic on their service. Innovative practice, sustainability and the level of impact on teaching and learning will be key judging criteria.
The Jeff Cooper Inspirational Information Professional of the Year Award acknowledges individuals committed to organisational success. Do you work with a colleague who has made an exceptional contribution to the workplace? The Jeff Cooper Award is named in honour of CoLRiC’s founder and will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to improving teaching, learning and the student experience. In September last year we were delighted to announce that the winner of the 2020 Jeff Cooper Award for Inspirational Information Professional of the Year was Benjamin Poore, Library and Study Skills Assistant, from Leyton Sixth Form College library. The judges felt that Ben was a ‘committed, creative and innovative individual, who is making a really impressive contribution to library service delivery.’ They were impressed by the variety of student support activities in which Ben is involved and felt that his focus on facilitating outcomes for individual learners is truly inspirational.
We encourage as many of you as possible to nominate yourselves or other teams and individuals for these two 2021 awards. Many participating Colleges have expressed how beneficial the nomination process was for them.
Gathering testimonials from academic staff was a really positive experience. It’s great to reflect on what you’ve achieved, as – by necessity – we spend our days focused on the immediate moment. At a time when we feel quite vulnerable, it has given us a real uplift.
Submissions are open from Friday 14th May 2021 and the closing date for nominations is 6 pm on Friday 16th July 2021.
If you require all of the supporting documentation, further advice and information, please contact Gary and Val at: colric@colric.org.uk