In Flanders (Belgium) the biennial Bib Web Awards (Library Web Awards) are a well-known event. It brings together bachelor students, library staff and citizens. The 1st edition (2010) was thought so influential that the Minister of Culture asked to be present at the event as keynote speaker. Special guest of the 2nd edition (2012) was famous Flemish writer Annelies Verbeke. As lecturer at Library School Ghent I organize these Awards as part of the curriculum. It offers my students the opportunity to explore how web applications are used by Flemish public libraries, university libraries and archives. The students are thereby fully responsible for nominating the most deserving initiatives. This approach brings them closer to the working field than mere lectures ever could. The Bib Web Awards are a program of neither a business corporation, nor a library association, nor a library journal. The nominations are in students’ hands, which contributes to a positive perception. These awards also play an important role for the Flemish library and archive sector. In 2010, usage of web applications and social media tended to be quite scarce. The fact that these awards honor valuable initiatives, has lead to lots of fruitful experiments. The event also encourages citizens and local funding to recognize libraries’ and archives’ accomplishments. As I am preparing the 3rd edition (2014), I would like to discuss the event’s format with congress attendees. This project may inspire other library schools or training programs. The topic lends itself to a poster session as both events (2010 & 2012) are well-documented with a strategy roadmap, lively photographs and lots of infographics (public voting data, web statistics, etc.). More information (in Dutch): http://bibwa2010.blogspot.be, http://bibwa2012.blogspot.be, http://bibwa2014.blogspot.be, http://twitter.com/bibwa2014, http://www.facebook.com/bibwa2014

1. ROADMAP
 Look for sponsors & special guest
 Set categories
● Follow me: most influential information professional
● Everybody’s friend: best use of social networks
● Showcase: best website
● Big brother: best regional digital project
● Small is beautiful: best local digital project
● Let's go viral: best online promo
● Out of the box: best online initiative targeting specific groups
● Very literate: best activity promoting information literacy
● Schools & tools: best use of social media by university libraries
● The specials: best use of social media by archives
 Nominate the stars of the Flemish libraries and archives
 Compose a jury of experts
 Present the final event
10 categories
100 nominees
16 students
8 experts
8500 votes
33 awards
In Flanders the biennial Library Web
Awards are a well-known event
organized by the Library School Ghent.
It brings together students, library staff
and citizens.
How library awards can
emancipate library school
students
Eva Simon
2010 — 2012 — 2014
Grounded in the curriculum
The awards are grounded
in the curriculum, offering
students the unique
opportunity to explore
how web
applications are
used by Flemish
public libraries,
university
libraries and
archives.
Students are
fully responsible
for the nomination process,
a consciently chosen
approach that brings them
closer to the working field
than mere lectures ever
could, and contributes to a
positive public perception.
In 2010, usage of web applications
and social media by Flemish
libraries tended to be scarce. In
that respect, the impact of the
awards on the sector is
considerable, leading to lots of
fruitful experiments, and
encouraging citizens and
financing authorities to recognize
libraries’ accomplishments.
@bibwa2014
facebook.com/
bibwa2014
bibwa2014.
blogspot.be
Student
25%
Expert
25%
Public
voting
50%
© Photos: Dries De Mesel & Joke Van der maelen
eva.t.simon@gmail.com