Identifying recognition opportunities: whom and what do we award in the field of Library and Information Science?

The University of Houston Libraries created the Identifying Recognition Opportunities Committee (IROC) in order to identify available local and national opportunities and encourage UH Libraries staff to apply for and nominate one another for these opportunities. This poster shares how the committee approached this work, as well as insights gained regarding available opportunities for librarians, library staff, and LIS students. The committee reviewed over 250 opportunities offered by a number of professional organizations, resulting in the creation of a database to facilitate librarian, staff, and student applications for a wide variety of recognitions, including scholarships, travel grants, and other awards. In creating the searchable database, a controlled vocabulary was created for key words, such as "leadership," "underrepresented groups," and "innovation." Recognitions were also coded according to their audience: professional librarian, library support staff, or library school student. By reviewing such a large corpus, team members gained a perspective on the types of skill, abilities, and characteristics currently most recognized and awarded by the profession. This poster reports on the results of this research into recognitions and trends identified. Individuals and groups interested in applying for or nominating others for recognitions will benefit by gaining insights into where awards in the field are currently focused. Additionally, awarding institutions or organizations will benefit from learning about areas that may merit additional support in the future.