Stanford libraries offer cash for coolest book collection

The Stanford Daily reports that the university’s libraries have launched a student book-collecting competition. The Byra J. and William P. Wreden Prize for Collecting Books and Related Materials will award $1,000 to the student whose personal book collection reflects “a creative and innovative approach.” Students entering the competition must submit an annotated bibliography of their selection, accompanied by a short essay describing how they assembled their collections and detailing plans for growth. Lined up to judge the contest is a panel made up of librarians and faculty, as well as a bookseller and a book collector.

January 23, 2004 by Uncategorized 3

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3 Responses

  1. lucky says:
    January 23, 2004 at 10:55 pm

    copycats or just too good an idea?
    interestingly enough, they got the idea from harvard. (i know that link is old, but that’s all i could find!)

    Reply
  2. VictorianMoss says:
    January 23, 2004 at 11:44 pm

    Re:copycats or just too good an idea?
    I think it’s actually a fairly common idea. My alma mater has both general and specialized library prizes, albeit with a considerably smaller check, which not only require at least partial annotation but also a short description of a number of books you would like to add, and why. Judged, naturally, by the librarians.

    Reply
  3. liz says:
    January 24, 2004 at 1:50 am

    Re:copycats or just too good an idea?
    I’d never heard of this, but you’re right, it does appear to be a common thing. I did a search on “college student book collection contest” and came up with loads. Don’t think my school did this, but I doubt I could have competed with
    “French Colonialism in the 1920s”. Damn. In any event, my book collection consisted of my required textbooks and a few stacks of punk rock and heavy metal fanzines.

    Reply

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