Presented to: The J. Willard Marriott Library of the University of Utah
For:
The Association for Mormon Letters presents a special Award in Mormon Literary Studies to the J. Willard Marriott Library of the University of Utah for its digitized collection of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Since its inception in 1966, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought has served as a central point for academic studies of Mormonism. Dialogue has promoted Mormon arts and letters by publishing hundreds of poems, short stories, personal essays, and articles of criticism. However, like many periodicals, Dialogue's treasures have generally remained only as accessible as the most recent issue or two.
But Dialogue's many conversations are being re-opened. Nearly 40 years of back issues--the entire run of this seminal periodical for Mormon studies--have now been completely digitized and made accessible to the public free of charge, thanks to the initiative of the current Dialogue board and the generosity of donors. This is laudable in its own right, but digital objects are often as ephemeral as the electrons that compose them. This collection would not be as valuable or secure for future generations were it not hosted by an academic institution committed to maintaining the accessibility and permanence of this collection.
The Association for Mormon Letters commends the J. Willard Marriott Library of the University of Utah for providing a permanent home to this vital digital collection, and by extension, for the university's commitment to the sustained and critical assessment of Mormon arts and letters.