Student Conference Grant

Statement of Purpose

The Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) seeks to provide opportunities for students and new graduates to encourage participation and professional growth towards a career in academic libraries. To that end, each year the ALAO Executive Board may award one free registration plus up to $150 in travel expenses to an undergraduate student with a demonstrated interest in the library field, or to a student enrolled in a Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate program to support attendance or presenting at the ALAO Annual Conference. Grant monies are intended to assist with the costs incurred in preparing the presentation and modest travel costs associated with presenting at the conference. An ALAO Executive Board member or volunteer from the membership will be assigned as a mentor to help the recipient prepare their program, highlight ALAO membership benefits, and facilitate networking opportunities at the conference.

General Information

The Student Conference Grant is awarded to one person or program, either a presentation or poster session at the ALAO Annual Conference. Priority will be given to applicants with an accepted program proposal for the upcoming ALAO conference. If more than one student presenter is involved in a program, the grant is awarded to the program. Disbursement of grant monies amongst the student presenters is at the discretion of the eligible parties. Grant monies may be applied to registration, travel, lodging, and/or presentation-related expenses. If grant monies have been dispersed and the grant recipient fails to appear at the conference, ALAO may request the check be returned, depending on the extenuating circumstances around the absence.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in a library career (e.g. student workers, library volunteers, members of the Luminary program, etc.), students currently enrolled in an accredited LIS program, or a recent graduate (within one year) from an LIS program, are eligible to apply for the Student Conference Grant. Applicants may be full or part-time students who have expressed a career interest in academic librarianship. Priority will be given to applicants with an accepted program proposal for the upcoming ALAO conference. Completed applications include completed application form, plus an essay of 250 words or less describing how attending and presenting at the ALAO Conference will benefit the applicant in their future academic library career, and a program proposal submission if the student plans on presenting. ALAO membership is not required.