ILA's Inclusive Travel Grants for National Conferences seek to advance the ILA Strategic Plan twin goals of "A Culture of Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession" and "...in the Association." From ILA’s Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
"We acknowledge...improvement requires intentional change at both the individual and institutional levels. These efforts are two-fold:
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Directly support our colleagues from underrepresented populations. We seek to make the library field more accessible to all by creating a culture of inclusion.
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Advance the understanding of and support for greater inclusion by ILA leadership and library workers as a whole."
Our Statement is rooted in the Strategic Plan, and this travel grants program is designed primarily to advance the former and indirectly/secondarily the latter.
Awards
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Five stipends per year of $1000 each, total $5000. Thank you to Fast Forward Libraries for sponsoring an additional stipend for 2023, bringing the total to six!
- No more than one stipend per recipient
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Awards will be made up-front rather than on a reimbursement basis
Eligible conferences
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ALA Annual or LibLearnX
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ALA divisional conferences: PLA, AASL, ACRL, ALSC Institute or YALSA YA Symposium
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ARSL
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JCLC
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REFORMA
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NCAAL
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SLA
- MLA
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Others may be suggested by applicant; must be national
Eligible Recipients
Librarians and library staff who have faced structural barriers to national participation, including those eligible for ALA’s Spectrum Scholarships (those who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern/North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander); people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQIA+; and rural librarians or library staff.
Criteria and Requirements
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ILA personal member, or on staff at an ILA institutional member organization
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Currently work in a library or information role/setting
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This conference would be the first national conference the applicant has attended
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Letter of support from library/employer confirming support for applicant’s attendance at the conference (distinct from a recommendation letter, which is not required)
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250-word maximum statement indicating interest in attending and what the applicant hopes to gain from attendance at the conference
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Successful applicants do not need to submit a written report following the event but will need to submit confirmation of registration
Timeline
Rolling, depending on conference registration dates:
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Application open January 2023 for ALA Annual, ARSL, AASL, YALSA's YA Services Symposium, NCAAL, and SLA
-The deadline for first-round applications for 2023 conferences is February 24; award/s will be announced March 10
-If fewer than six successful applications are received, there will be a second round. The deadline for second-round applications for 2023 conferences is April 14; award/s will be announced by May 1.
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Application open July 1, 2023 for 2024 eligible conferences
-Deadline for first-round applications for 2024 conferences: September 8, 2023; award/s announced September 29.
-If fewer than six successful applications are received, additional rounds may be announced.