At Technology from Sage we believe that the right technology can remove barriers to knowledge. That’s why, back in 2022, we launched the Technology from Sage Innovators Award in partnership with ER&L.
The award commends examples of technological innovations in e-resources librarianship, especially in support of pedagogy and/or research workflows across university libraries. The winning innovator received a $2,000 prize, with an additional $500 award to 2nd and 3rd place, to be used to advance future technological innovations and/or professional development.
We’re proud that the Award has been running for three years, and you can read about the prior Award winners here. Find out what winning the award meant to them, and their plans for the cash prize.
2024 Award Winners
Top Prize Winner: Hub for Artificial Intelligence Research in the Archives
Librarian: Rebecca Y. Bayeck, Utah State University
Overview: HAIRA is a platform educating archivists about AI's role in archives, stemming from prior research. It emerged from a popular webinar series, highlighting the demand for AI education. With funding from CLIR, it offers a website and introductory course, attracting 300 participants in its first module. HAIRA aims to foster AI literacy among professionals at all career stages.
Runner-up: Using Google Colab and Alma’s Analytics API to create a Library Data Dashboard
Librarian: Jill Locascio, SUNY College of Optometry
Overview: The SUNY College of Optometry utilized Google Colab to execute a Python script that imports data from Alma Analytics into a Google Sheet via Alma’s Analytics API, which is then used to create self-updating visualizations that can be embedded on a web page, allowing librarians to build their own library data dashboard. This allows librarians to share their data to a wide audience in a clear and concise manner.
Runner-up: Simplifying Electronic Resources Updates for Users
Librarian: Sonali Sugrim, Queens College, CUNY
Overview: The Electronic Resources Status Dashboard was developed using Springshare's System Status Management system to communicate changes efficiently. Updates are shared via email, MS Teams, and the dashboard, benefiting both internal and external users. It links to library pages, informing users about resource changes promptly. Explore it here: Electronic Resources Status Dashboard.
Read on for our interviews with the 2024 winning projects…
Interview with Top Prize Winner: Hub for Artificial Intelligence Research in the Archives
What has winning the Technology from Sage Innovators Award meant to you and your institution/project?
Rebecca Y. Bayeck: Winning the award was a great encouragement and also a validation of the importance of this initiative. I started this project in 2020 with the goal of advancing AI literacies among archivists. The initial support for this initiative came from the Council on Library and information Resources (CLIR). This award serves as another grant that will help to continue this initiative, which big perspective is democratizing AI so many, and particularly archivists can have a seat and a say at the table where AI tools are being developed, and even after they get developed and deployed.
What are your plans involving the prize money from the Innovators Award – will you advance your winning innovation, or will you use it towards funding a new project?
Rebecca Y. Bayeck: As of now, the plan is to use the prize to expand this project by developing collaboration with other scholars and experts in this area. I think such collaboration with increase the impact of this project.
Interview with Runner-up: Using Google Colab and Alma’s Analytics API to create a Library Data Dashboard
What has winning the Technology from Sage Innovators Award meant to you and your institution/project?
Jill Locascio: I am honored and grateful to be named a finalist for the Technology from Sage Innovators Award. As a librarian who primarily works with systems and eresources, I dedicate a lot of my time to the development and implementation of creative, practical, low-to-no cost solutions to address our library’s evolving needs. It has been extremely encouraging to discover that my approach to creating a Library Data Dashboard may be useful to others in a similar position.
What are your plans involving the prize money from the Innovators Award – will you advance your winning innovation, or will you use it towards funding a new project?
Jill Locascio: Working on the Data Dashboard not only provided me the opportunity to solve an issue facing our library, it also provided me a hands-on opportunity to develop coding skills. Doing so has opened a floodgate of ideas for potential projects which will use code to improve workflows and library services. I plan to use the prize money to take professional development courses that will help continue my growth as a coder, enabling me to implement and share new innovations.
Interview with Runner-up: Simplifying Electronic Resources Updates for Users, SUNY College of Optometry, Queens College, CUNY
What has winning the Technology from Sage Innovators Award meant to you and your institution/project?
Sonali Sugrim: I’m very pleased to have been selected as a finalist for the Technology from Sage Innovators Award. It means a lot to me and the work I do. As an E-Resources Librarian, I’m always looking for ways to improve access and discovery while meeting the needs of our users and this award has helped me highlight the work I have done and engage with other professionals on how to improve and engage users.
What are your plans involving the prize money from the Innovators Award – will you advance your winning innovation, or will you use it towards funding a new project?
Sonali Sugrim: I’m no longer at the institution where I implemented this feature. I hope to discuss and implement the same feature or variant feature at my current institution. If this feature may not be top priority at my current institution then I plan to use the prize money to advance my learning of various coding or software technologies to help me improve the way I approach some of my responsibilities.
Congratulations again to the 2024 winners of the Technology from Sage Innovators Award! Have you spotted any exciting technological innovations in librarianship or Higher Education? Give these innovations a shout out on X and LinkedIn.
