IMLS funds scholarships for the 2006 RBMS Preconference

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association, is pleased to announce the availability of 30 scholarships to enable new and aspiring library, archives, and museum professionals to attend the 2006 RBMS Preconference. Entitled "Libraries, Archives, and Museums in the Twenty-First Century: Intersecting Missions, Converging Futures?", the conference will be hosted by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin from 20-23 June 2006.

These scholarships, which are intended to cover all expenses associated with attending the conference, are funded by a generous grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities.

To determine your eligibility and apply for a scholarship, please review the criteria and instructions below.

Amount of award

• New Professional Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,080 each along with a complimentary registration for the RBMS Preconference (a $195 value). The total value of each new professional scholarship is $1,275.
• Student Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,200 each along with a complimentary registration for the RBMS Preconference (a $75 value). The total value of each student scholarship is $1,275.

Recipients will be requested to provide a social security or taxpayer identification number to receive their award, which may be taxable.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a library or information science, archival studies, or museum studies graduate program or a graduate of such a program within the past five years.
• Applicants must be attending an RBMS Preconference for the first time.

Criteria for selection

• Quality of responses to questions on the application form.
• The award committee will strive to achieve both diversity and balance among scholarship recipients, considering the following factors: educational or employment experience, professional orientation and background, type of institution affiliation, and geography.
• At least ten scholarships will be reserved for applicants from professionally underrepresented backgrounds.

Conditions and requirements of award

• Recipients will be required to attend the entire conference.
• Recipients will be required to complete a general conference evaluation and a short essay (approximately 1000 words) concerning their conference experience by July 22, 2006.
• Scholarship award essays may be quoted (without personally identifying data) in reports about the conference.

How to apply

The deadline to apply for scholarship has passed. Thank you to all of those who have shown interest and applied. Please expect to be notified in mid to late April.

Any questions may be addressed to Tory Ondrla, Meeting and Special Events Planner (tondrla@ala.org or 312-280-2515).

Application deadline

All applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. March 30, 2006 (extended deadline).

Award notification

All applicants will receive email notification of award decisions by late April.