I’m writing to share a call for nominations for the 2026 Noel Prize from the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL). The prize recognizes outstanding work advancing open access to Special Collections materials and is open to US-based Special Collections Libraries and Archives. Please consider nominating a project — including your own — that reflects this commitment.
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This PACSCL award honors the memory of Will Noel, former Board Chair whose vision, boldness, and warmth guided the organization through a transformational period. To carry forward Will’s commitment to open access, this award will be issued annually to recognize an achievement in increasing the physical and/or digital accessibility of Special Collections materials. PACSCL will publicize the awardee to the greater Archives and Special Collections community.
Winning projects need not be large or “splashy” but should represent a commitment of focus and resources that is meaningful for the institution. No institution, and no project, is too small or too large for consideration. Any US-based Special Collections Library or Archives is eligible to apply for this award.
The awardee will be honored in the Special Collections community and will receive a small cash prize. In the spirit of Will’s insatiable appetite for hijinks and fun, the prize will also include a whimsical, shareable gift.
More details and the application form (due March 15) are available here: https://pacscl.org/what-we-do/for-librarians/the-noel-prize/
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Doug Emery
emeryr_at_upenn.edu
Cultural Heritage Computing
University of Pennsylvania Libraries
Philadelphia, PA
Received on Thu Feb 12 2026 - 12:37:13 EST