Cohen's paper, titled "Extending LOCKSS: The Preservation Risks of Private LOCKSS Networks", provides a review of the basics of the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) project, originally designed to ensure long-term preservation of and access to e-journal content, and considers the potential preservation risks of private LOCKSS networks (PLNs) which are exploring how to extend LOCKSS in preserving collections more diverse and less predictable than e-journal content.

"The members of the LITA/Ex Libris Student Writing Award Committee and I are pleased to acknowledge and honor with this award Cynthia Cohen's clear and cogent manuscript, which presents a balanced view in an area in which opinions are very divided," said Heidi Hanson, chair of the committee. "Ms. Cohen's paper examines both the technology being applied to the task of preserving digital content and the philosophical questions and challenging decisions facing organizations interested in more specialized applications of the LOCKSS technology to support a common preservation mission for unique special collections."