Applications Open for 2026 Core LIFT Award for Professional Development

CHICAGO–Core is pleased to announce applications are open for the Career LIFT Award to support skill development and networking opportunities for information professionals. The award consists of up to $1,500 the recipient may use on professional development including, but not limited to, attending Core Forum, the ALA Annual Conference, Core Continuing Education Course, or other ALA and/or Core opportunity. Award money must be expended by August 31 of the same year.

Grounded in Core’s mission of cultivating and amplifying the collective expertise of library workers in core functions and its tagline, Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, the Career LIFT award is designed to support information professionals whose passion, actions, and everyday work warrants recognition and celebration. The Award celebrates the often unseen but critical labor that goes into organizing, managing, and maintaining library collections and services.

Applications are accepted from any Core member. Individuals must be a member of Core to receive the award. The deadline to apply for the 2025 Career LIFT Award is Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

The application process requires a brief essay about how the candidate is engaged in community building, advocacy, or learning; how they contribute to keeping things running day-to-day; and how funding would help them achieve their professional development goals. Award recipients will be honored at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in June. 

Recipients will be announced in April. Core is seeking funding to add more LIFT Awards to invest in our members' futures and help them realize their vision and passion to improve their communities. Please contact the Core Office at core@ala.org for more information.

We are grateful to the Core LIFT Awards Committee for facilitating this Award.

Apply today!

Core is grateful to OCLC for their continued sponsorship of the LIFT Award.

About Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram, or LinkedIn.