Congratulations to Jade Smith, this year’s recipient of the Charlotte Henry Study Grant. The grant was established and supported by Kevin Sullivan and family in memory of the late Charlotte Henry and her commitment to public libraries and research. Valued at $5000, the purpose of the grant is to enable a student to achieve more than they might otherwise be able to, by providing a financial contribution to the costs of their study while also enabling them to make a tangible impact on public libraries.
Jade is studying a Masters of Information Management at Charles Sturt University and works as an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of Sydney. Jade is also the Content Coordinator for the ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics special interest group, with a belief that graphic novels and comics have the power to reach people of all ages. With such a passion for the potential of visual literary mediums, it's no surprise that Jade plans to use the grant to research graphic novels and comics collections in public libraries, with the aim of providing programming ideas that public libraries can use to promote those collections.
“My research will examine the role of graphic novels and comics as tools public libraries can wield for the benefit of their communities. I am a big believer in the potential for graphic novels and comics to be used in libraries to support learning new languages and literacies, de-mystifying complex concepts, highlighting diverse perspectives and ideas, and making reading fun for people of all ages.”
The judging panel were particularly impressed that Jade had already developed a research methodology for the project, and had plans for a toolkit that public libraries could use to promote their collections and programs about graphic novels and comics. Jade also intends to submit a research paper to capture the findings and outcomes of her project, and we look forward to catching up with her down the track.
The next round of applications for the Charlotte Henry Study Grant will open in 2024, as well as a range of other study grants and recognition awards managed by ALIA. Explore the opportunities here, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin for updates. It could be the next step for your career, or a launchpad for your passions.