The purpose of the Northern New York Library Network’s Professional Development Grant Program is to provide assistance to the library staff of Full Voting member libraries to engage in their profession beyond their own region or institution. Financial aid from this program prioritizes those making presentations at conferences, seminars, or workshops; graduate MLIS coursework for those working in our region’s libraries and special collections, and those serving on professional or advisory committees meeting at a non-local event or conference. Grants are awarded for professional development activities that are not available locally and for which funds might not otherwise be sufficiently available. Eligible activities do not need to be sponsored by a library or library organization.

Conditions

As a condition of the grant, recipients agree to share expertise or knowledge gained with the North Country library community. See below for Information Sharing.

Eligibility & Criteria

The program is available for travel opportunities that serve library staff, services, or resources of NNY Library Network’s Full Voting member organizations. Eligible events are not available locally; remote or virtual events are not eligible for awards. The intention of these grants is to support those engaging in and contributing beyond their home institution, that is, making presentations at conferences, seminars, workshops, enrolling in graduate coursework in library and information science, or serving on a professional committee or panel for which travel funds are not provided to attend a meeting. Applicants are eligible for up to $1400 funding every other fiscal year (July 1-June 30).

Application Schedule

Applications for funds will be reviewed quarterly (October 1, January 1, April 1, and July 1) to ensure budgeted funds can be distributed throughout the entire year. Applications must be submitted electronically, using the form linked below. An endorsement from applicant’s supervisor and/or the person who manages travel funding decisions for their organization is required before any award is made. The program announcement, flyer, or course description URL is to be included if available.
Applications must be received in time to be reviewed and a decision made before the event takes place. Awards will not be made retroactively.

Award Funds

The Northern New York Library Network will annually budget for Professional Development grants. Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum award is $1400. Funds will be paid on a reimbursement basis. Receipts for registration/tuition and travel must be submitted using this form for reimbursement. Eligible expenses include registration, tuition, lodging, mileage and/or commercial transportation, and meals (GSA per diem rates can be accepted in place of meal receipts).

Information Sharing

We believe travel can be an important component of professional development, and that those who are participating broadly in the LAM field have reason to be connecting with colleagues local to the region about their work or activities. Award recipients will be required to follow-up with some form of sharing related to their experience. Those traveling to present at a conference may deliver their presentation to a local audience (webinar OK). MLIS students receiving awards may make themselves available in a meetup (virtual OK) to discuss their programs with each other, and others who may be curious about the current experience of LIS education. Committee members who traveled to an event may share an insider’s view of the work they/their committee is involved in to update the rest of us on what’s happening within focused professional circles.