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About

Ysabel Bertolucci MLA Annual Conference Grant

The Ysabel Bertolucci MLA Annual Conference Grant recognizes Ysabel Bertolucci’s exemplary career as a members of the Medical Library Association (MLA) and her many contributions to its sections, chapters, and board. Endowed in 2014, the Bertolucci Grant recognizes a health sciences librarian who is involved in nursing, allied health, consumer health or international librarianship. 

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be a member of MLA. (see membership options)
    • 2024 membership dues must be paid in order to accept this conference grant (no exceptions).
  • Preferred that the applicant's primary focus of work is in one, or more, of the following areas:
    • Consumer and Patient Health Information
    • Global Health
    • Nursing and Allied Health
  • The applicant must be currently employed as a health information professional.
  • Preferred that the applicant has between two and five years of experience as a health sciences professional at the time of the annual conference.
  • The applicant must complete an application including a 200-word statement answering the question listed below. 

Priority consideration criteria:

  • The applicant is a first-time attendee at the MLA annual conference (in-person).
  • The applicant is presenting (or has submitted) a paper, poster, or lightning talk for MLA’s annual conference.

Terms

  • The grant recipient will be reimbursed up to $1,000 for actual travel and conference-related expenses.
    • Expense statements with all receipts must be submitted to MLA after the annual conference.
  • 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:
    • Physical travel within North America, or international travel when specifically allowed (e.g., mileage, travel fares, lodging)
    • Direct costs related to profession development or conference attendance (e.g., registration fees, books)
    • 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.
  • If no candidate is determined eligible, no grant will be given.
  • Letters of reference are NOT requested or desired.
  • The travel grant must be used in the year it is awarded and cannot be carried over to another year. 

NOTE: In the case of a virtual-only conference, terms may be altered.

Submission Checklist

  • Completed online application
  • A 200-word statement answering the following questions:
    • What do you expect to gain professionally and/or personally by attending the MLA annual conference?
  • Updated MLA member profile

Ready to Submit an Application?

  • The grant application process is closed.
  • Recipients and non-recipients with be notified with results in mid-March 2024.
  • Applications will open next in December 2024.

Past Recipients 

  • 2023: Annabelle Holt  
  • 2022: Michelle R. Lieggi, AHIP
  • 2021: no travel due to COVID pandemic
  • 2020: Names not released*
  • 2019: Melanie Allen, AHIP
  • 2018: Alexandria Quesenberry
  • 2017: Robin O'Hanlon
  • 2016: Jennifer Leigh Kaari
  • 2015: Karin Saric

* 2020 conference grants were re-formatted due the COVID pandemic and the shift to a virtual-only conference. Given the hardship nature of the reformatted grants, recipient names are not shared. 

Have a question? Contact MLA