The Bibliographical Society of Canada (BSC) invites applications for the Emerging Scholar Prize. The Prize promotes the work of a researcher who is beginning a career in the fields of book history and bibliography, broadly defined — studies encompassing the creation, production, publication, distribution, transmission, history, and uses of printed books, manuscripts, or electronic texts. Preference will be given to topics with a Canadian dimension.
The recipient of the BSC Emerging Scholar Prize will be invited to deliver a paper at the Society’s annual conference. A revised article-length version of the paper will be published in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada / Cahiers de la Société bibliographique du Canada subject to peer review. A grant of $500 accompanies the Prize and may be used to help the recipient defray costs of attending the annual BSC conference at the Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, or to meet costs associated with research. The recipient will also receive a one-year complimentary membership in the BSC.
Students of any nationality enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (e.g., MA, MAS, PhD, MLIS, MI) are eligible, as is anyone who has completed such a program within the last two years — measured from the date of convocation to the submission deadline. Individuals holding tenure track/continuing appointments are ineligible, as are members of the Awards Committee and the BSC Executive. There are no restrictions regarding the topic of research so long as it relates to some aspect of bibliography or book history.
Applicants must submit the following documents electronically in English or in French, in a single PDF file in the following order:
- A one-page cover letter that explains the applicant’s interest in and suitability for the prize;
- A brief Curriculum Vitae (max. three pages);
- An abstract (max. 750 words, incl. bibliography) of the proposed paper;
- Proof of student status or of graduation within the past two years (copy of diploma, copy of student identification, or official or unofficial transcript).
Please note that, per a recent policy change, a letter of reference is no longer required in support of applications for this award.
All application materials should be sent to Myron Groover, Chair, BSC Awards Committee, awards_prix@bsc-sbc.ca, by January 31st, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The recipient will be informed in March 2024.