Applications Open: Vickery Bowles Award on Intellectual Freedom in Public Libraries

November 26, 2025

The Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) is accepting applications for its newly established Vickery Bowles Award on Intellectual Freedom in Public Libraries. The award will be presented annually to

a student currently enrolled in an accredited Master of Library Science, or Master of Library & Information Science program who demonstrates knowledge, commitment and passion to upholding democratic values and Intellectual Freedom within public libraries.

The deadline for the 2026 award is January 16, 2026 at 5PM ET.

Applications for the Vickery Bowles Award for Intellectual Freedom Now Open

As City Librarian at Toronto Public Library from 2015 until her retirement in 2025, and as a member of TPL’s leadership since 1998, Vickery Bowles helped define library service to not only North America’s largest and busiest public library but throughout Canada and the USA. A passionate defender of public libraries as democratic institutions, Vickery tirelessly championed the protection and preservation of democratic values, particularly around intellectual freedom; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media communication (The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms).

As an integral and respected member of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council/Conseil des Bibliothèques Urbaines du Canada, Vickery provided sage advice and cultivated deep friendships to many CULC and non-CULC CEOs. To acknowledge Vickery’s contribution to the library sector, and to democratic values and Intellectual Freedom, CULC/CBUC has created an annual prize for a student currently enrolled in an accredited Master of Library Science, or Master of Library & Information Science program who demonstrates knowledge, commitment and passion to upholding democratic values and Intellectual Freedom within public libraries.

The cash prize will be awarded to one successful submission during Freedom to Read Week held in February of each year.

Cash amount: Cdn$1,000

Submission Instructions

1. Available to any student currently enrolled in an accredited Master of Library Science program at a Canadian university. While the submission may be co-authored by more-than-one person, all authors must be currently enrolled in an accredited Master of Library Science program at a Canadian university. In the case of multiple authors, the submission must list the name of the primary contributor to whom the prize amount will be rewarded (Cdn$1,000).
2. The student(s) must prove they are enrolled and in good standing with the program by including an official letter signed by the Dean or Dean’s office.
3. Calls for submissions will be posted on the CULC website and shared with library schools, library associations and library partners at the end of October each year with a submission deadline of mid-January the following year (for example October 2025-January 2026). Submissions must be sent electronically using the form below on or before the deadline. For any questions and to obtain additional information, please contact us.
4. Candidates must submit an original essay of 1,000-1,200 words in length, or a video or podcast of 3-4 minutes in duration, on the theme of upholding democratic values and intellectual freedom within a public library setting. The submission must include any and all citations, including any use of AI (etc. ChatGPT). The winning candidate may also be asked to provide further editing to meet publication requirements.
5. All submissions will be reviewed by a jury of CULC library CEOs using an established matrix. For example, the jury will look for evidence of a deep and clear understanding of the current issues around intellectual freedom and democratic values in public libraries, creativity, superior writing with a clear thesis, argument and conclusion, and formatting (ie. APA, Chicago or MLA style guides or this link for podcasts or videos).
6. The deadline for the 2026 award is January 16, 2026 at 5PM ET.
7. The jury reserves the right to not award a prize in any year.

Apply Now

(Via Canadian Urban Libraries Council)