Hospital Libraries Professional Development Grant

This grant was established in 1996 by the Hospital Libraries Section, now the Hospital Library Caucus. It provides librarians working in a hospital and similar clinical settings with the support needed for educational or research activities, which includes developing and acquiring the knowledge and skills delineated in Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success: The Educational Policy Statement of the Medical Library Association and The Research Imperative: The Research Policy Statement of the Medical Library Association. This grant may be used for MLA professional development opportunities offered through MEDLIB-ED. The Hospital Libraries Professional Development Grant may also be used to support reimbursement for expenses incurred in conducting scientific research, such as professional assistance in survey research design, statistical analyses, and so on. 

Eligibility

• The applicant must be:
• employed as a health sciences librarian within the last year in either a hospital or other clinical care institution.
• a member of MLA. (membership options)
• The applicant may not:
• have previously received the Hospital Libraries Professional Development Grant.
• received an MLA grant, scholarship, or other awards within the last year.
• It is preferred that the applicant:
• be a member of the Hospital Libraries Caucus. Proof of caucus membership history may be confirmed by contacting MLA Member Services.
• update their MLA member profile page.

Terms

The grant jury will access the application and score points based on statement of objectives and outcomes, relevance of course or research objectives, justification of the amount requested, and clarity of application. 

• The online application must be completed and all supporting documents uploaded no later than November 15.
• The application should include: 
• a description of a specific education program, including scope, duration, level of study and budget.
• a detailed itemization of the financial support requested.
• indication of how skills obtained may result in a specific outcome (e.g., planned research study, publication, change in library operations, etc.)
• In the case of support for scientific research:
• describe the research project including title, goals, objectives, methodology, budget, the project’s contribution to the field of library and information practice, and identification of a research mentor.
• show how the educational program or research project will aid in achieving objectives set forth in the educational policy and research policy statements referenced above.
• Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Awarding of Grant:

• No more than one employee per institution per year.
• Not given to support work toward a degree or certificate program.
• A maximum of four grants may be awarded per year, with a maximum (aggregate) award of $2000. 
• Depending on the qualifications/requests of the candidates, the jury may recommend that the grant not be awarded in a given year.

Grant Funds

• The grant may be used for professional development and/or activities in the areas of medical information services.  
• All proposed expenses must clearly align with the intention of the grant and will be evaluated for relevance.
• Funding may be used for reasonable and actual expenses that meet MLA guidelines:
• Direct costs related to profession development or conference attendance (e.g., registration fees, books)
• Direct costs related to the project, where applicable (e.g., scans of library resources or interlibrary loans, teleconferencing fees, virtual polling software)
• Physical travel within North America, or international travel when specifically allowed (e.g., mileage, travel fares, lodging)
• Costs to enable the awardee to travel (may allow for compensation for reasonable expenses, e.g., family caregiving)
• The funds may not be used for institutional overhead, other indirect costs, or income tax payments. 

Recipient

• The grant recipient and nonrecipients will be notified in March before the public announcement is made.
• The recipient will receive grant funds in after expense statements, receipts, and verification of program completion are submitted to MLA headquarters in June.   
• The amount requested and actual grant awarded may not necessarily be the same amount. The amount reimbursed will not exceed actual expenses.
• The period of disbursement of grant funds will not exceed one year past the date of the MLA annual conference. 
• The recipient will be asked to share a photo and video for the virtual awards ceremony held in April.  

Ready to Submit an Application?

• The grant application process is closed.
• Recipients will be announced in March 2024.
• Applications will open next in August 2024.

Grant Recipients

• 2023: Marlowe Bogino and Alexandra Short, AHIP
• 2022: Margaret Easbey and D M (Mikki) Smith, AHIP
• 2021: none awarded
• 2020: Danielle N. Linden, AHIP and Louisa Verma, AHIP
• 2019: Barbara (Basia) Delawska-Elliott, AHIP and Tanisha N. Mills, AHIP
• 2018: Carrie D. Adams and Celine Soudant
• 2017: Sue Espe, AHIP
• 2016: Lee Luniewski and Karen Dianne Stafford
• 2015: Amanda Gautreaux, AHIP
• 2014: Emily J. Glenn, AHIP, and Candy Winteregg
• 2013: Meredith Ilyse Solomon and Leah C. Osterhaus Trzasko
• 2012: Elizabeth Jayne Kiscaden
• 2011: none awarded
• 2010: none awarded
• 2009: Lois Culler and Lisa A. Marks
• 2008: Amy Frey and Michelle Goodwin
• 2007: Hella Bluhm-Steiber and Brenda Wong
• 2006: Rita Haydar and Joan Wilson
• 2005: Marcy Brown and Sharon Kambeitz
• 2004: Pamela Barnard and Lisa Blackwell
• 2003: Wendy Larson
• 2002: none awarded
• 2001: Misa F. Mi and Tamara Rader
• 2000: Laura Gerwitz and Celia Munoz Smith
• 1999: Metro Detroit MLG-Research Committee
• 1998: Carol Shisler

Have a question? Contact MLA