KU Libraries looking for 2025 Sprints partners

Faculty and academic staff of the University of Kansas looking for a partner to solve research or pedagogical challenges are encouraged to submit applications for Sprints Week, a five-day intensive collaboration with KU Libraries. Teams of expert librarians partner with faculty on a broad range of projects that enrich research and teaching efforts while also providing financial support for selected participants. Applications are open now through March 3, with all applicants notified by the end of March.   

Sprints Week activities, to take place May 19-23, will pair selected faculty and staff with a specialized team of librarian experts, producing a tangible outcome or product during the spring-summer intercession. Librarian expertise includes data management and visualization, digital mapping, digital scholarship, foreign language expertise, information literacy, disciplinary expertise, open access, and scholarly communications, among others. Selected participants receive a $1,000 stipend. 

“Sprints projects come from a wide variety of academic disciplines and provide a unique opportunity for dedicated and focused time to work with a libraries team with wide and deep expertise to significantly advance challenging work,” said Michael Peper, Head of the Center for Faculty & Staff Initiatives and Engagement with KU Libraries.  

Recent projects have included technology integration into business and language courses, creation of interactive GIS maps for history and environmental studies courses, the creation of an open textbook in journalism, incorporating information literacy, data management and data literacy in geology lab modules, and course redesign in visual communication.  

Full information and a timeline are available on the KU Libraries website. Email sprints@ku.edu for questions or to connect with the resources and librarian expertise applied to Sprints projects, available year-round.