Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

Samantha LeGrand, Jing Lu, and Zoeanna Mayhook receive National Instruction Section (IS) Innovation Award

April 7th, 2026

Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies faculty Samantha LeGrand, Jing Lu, and Zoeanna Mayhook have been honored with the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Instruction Section (IS) Innovation Award, recognizing creative and impactful approaches to information literacy. The trio received the award for their Partners for Algorithmic Literacy (PAL) project, an initiative that pairs instructors and students to design meaningful, collaborative approaches to teaching and learning about AI and algorithmic systems.

Presented by  Instruction Section, the award celebrates projects that demonstrate innovative and effective methods in information literacy instruction and programming. Nicole LaMoreaux, Chair of the IS Innovation Award Committee, praised the project’s strong emphasis on collaboration and its thoughtful integration of AI into human learning.

In response to the recognition, the awardees shared, “PAL has created a venue for open dialogue within the neutral third space of the library through a partnership pedagogy model. Bringing students and instructors together as co-learners fosters mutual understanding and collaborative problem-solving around the opportunities and tensions AI presents in the classroom. We look forward to continuing this work and encourage others to approach AI literacy through a partnership lens.”

PAL reflects Purdue Libraries’ continued leadership in advancing information literacy in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, helping prepare learners to critically engage with emerging tools and systems.

For more details and a full list of award recipients, visit the ALA website.