ACRL 13th National Conference
Librarian Scholarship Application

Purpose
To provide opportunities for librarians with five or fewer years of post-MLS experience to update their skills and knowledge by participating in an ACRL professional development experience.

Goals

• Enhance librarians' ability to provide excellent services to constituent groups
• Increase participation of entry-level and minority librarians in ACRL professional development activities
• Increase ACRL's efforts toward being a more inclusive organization
• Provide members with an active, positive interaction with ACRL that will strengthen membership retention

Award
Fifty scholarships will be awarded. Each will include complimentary registration (a $325 value), and $250 stipend to attend the ACRL 2007 13th National Conference, March 29 - April 1, 2007 in Baltimore, MD. The total value of each scholarship is $575.

Eligibility Criteria
Scholarship applicants must be:

• ACRL members with five or fewer years of post-MLS experience
• Currently employed in a library, preference will be given to applicants employed in an academic or research library
• Recommended by the their dean or director

Application Process
To be considered, applicants must:

1. Obtain a recommendation from their dean/director in electronic form that can be cut and pasted into the application (not to exceed 300 words).
2. Complete the online Librarian Scholarship Application. The application includes a brief description of the applicant's employment history as well as a description of how attendance at the ACRL National Conference will support their long-term goals (not to exceed 300 words).

NOTE: Only electronic submissions will be considered.  The form does not allow submissions to be saved and resumed. Prepare your answers and have your dean/director’s recommendation obtained before starting the online application.  Please double-check all your answers before pushing the ‘submit’ button.

Deadline for Submission
The application deadline is December 1, 2006.

Selection Criteria
The award committee consists of members of the ACRL National Conference Scholarship Subcommittee. The committee will strive to achieve both diversity and balance among scholarship recipients based on the following factors:

• Responses to open-ended questions on the application form
• Dean/director recommendation
• Educational experience, background and geographical diversity

In awarding the scholarships, particular attention will be given to librarians from diverse backgrounds and those employed at institutions serving professionally under-represented racial and ethnic groups. Preference will be given to individuals who have not previously been awarded an ACRL scholarship. Individuals may only receive one scholarship per professional development event.

Selection Notification
Scholarship applicants will be notified via e-mail after the ALA Midwinter Meeting in late January, 2007. Scholarship applicants should not register for the ACRL 13th National Conference until notified of their status to avoid the need for refunds. The early-bird registration deadline is February 7, 2007.