Hirons Library at Goldey-Beacom College chosen as the 2025 recipient of the LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award

CHICAGO — The Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) of the American Library Association is pleased to announce that the 2025 Innovation in Instruction Award will be presented to the Hirons Library Goldey-Beacom College. Created to recognize a library that demonstrates innovation in support of information literacy and instruction, this year’s award recognizes Hirons Library for integrating Litmaps for Scholarly Discovery and an Ethical AI Literacy Program.

Under the collaborative leadership of Russell Michalak, Library Director; Kevin Hunt, Director of Academic Support Services and Associate Professor; and Bret Shepard, Visiting Professor of English, the library has revolutionized how first-year students engage with research by integrating Litmaps, an AI-driven citation mapping tool. This technology replaces traditional annotated bibliographies with an interactive, visual approach to research, allowing students to visualize scholarly connections and develop critical inquiry skills. Hirons Library introduced a pioneering ethical AI literacy program, embedding tools like Grammarly, Scholarcy, and ImageFX into first-year writing courses. This program, grounded in Lo’s CLEAR framework, teaches students to critically evaluate AI outputs, engage ethically, and maintain intellectual agency.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award, which highlights our commitment to fostering critical engagement with AI tools and ethical research practices,” said Russell Michalak, Director of Library and Archives at Goldey-Beacom College. “This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort across the College, bringing together students, faculty, and institutional leadership to ensure equitable access to AI literacy education.”

The Library Instruction Round Table was started in 1977 with the intent to bring together librarians who provide library instruction across all types of libraries–academic, public, school, and special. 2025 marks the 12th year the Librarian Recognition Award has been awarded. The Hirons Library will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a plaque commemorating the award. Their achievement will be celebrated at a ceremony during the ALA Annual Conference in June 2025 (date and time to be announced).

Find out more about LIRT, its mission, and the awards.

The LIRT Innovation in Instruction Awards Subcommittee included Monica Latham of Colorado State University (Chair), Sarena Hicks of Nova Southeastern University, Teresa Ann Copland of Grand Canyon University, and Brian W. Richardson of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.