To further support undergraduate research at Santa Clara University, the University Library in 2018 began offering two annual research awards. These awards honor students who demonstrate exemplary research skills and creativity through the comprehensive use of library and information resources to produce a scholarly work or class project of high quality. The project may be in any format or medium (as long as it involves research), such as a research paper, multimedia presentation, web site, fieldwork report, laboratory research project, etc. Both individual and group projects are eligible for the award.

A committee of faculty members and librarians evaluates entries on the evidence of the applicant's research strategy, process, and personal learning as demonstrated in the submitted project, summarized in a reflective essay describing the research process, exhibited in a bibliography, and supported by a faculty letter of recommendation. Each winner is awarded a $1,000 monetary prize along with a plaque recognizing the individual’s accomplishment. This collection includes projects by the winning authors and other finalists for the award.