Awards

Each year the School identifies promising students and professionals to receive one of its awards in honor of their professional and scholarly achievements. The awards are given at the SLIS Annual Recognition Ceremony held at the end of each Winter semester.

High-achieving graduates of the School are also eligible to be invited by the school's full-time faculty for membership in Beta Phi Mu, the international scholastic honor society for library and information science.  The beta tau chapter was established at Wayne State University on August 1, 1978.  Potentially-eligible students are contacted by the school in the spring of the year following their graduation to gauge their interest in being invited to join Beta Phi Mu.  Eligibility is defined by the graduate school GPA (3.75 or better) and an assessment of the graduate's leadership potential.  No more than 25% of the year's graduates may be invited to join Beta Phi Mu. 

Patricia B. Knapp Award

Awarded each year to the graduating student who has demonstrated a high level of scholarship and shows promise of success in a career in library and information service. The recipient shall be selected on the basis of demonstrated scholastic achievement, evidence of research capability and professional commitment.

Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award

This award is presented to a SLIS graduate who has made outstanding contributions to the library and information science field. It recognizes those who have achieved distinction in the profession based on job performance, service, publications or other relevant professional activity.

Professional Service Award

This award acknowledges Wayne State alumni and other individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to the Michigan library community during their careers and have supported the School of Library and Information Science.