MLA Librarians without Borders®/ Elsevier Foundation/ Research4Life Grants
The Medical Library Association (MLA) has established the MLA Librarians without Borders®/ Elsevier Foundation/ Research4Life Grants for 2016 to 2021. As of 2020, twenty grants have been awarded. Funded by the Elsevier Foundation, up to five awards per year will support HINARI/R4L training activities that promote the use of the programs’ scientific research resources in emerging/low-income countries. The grants will benefit the users in the eligible countries as these individuals will obtain skills to effectively and efficiently use the HINARI/R4L resources and become a training resource for their institutions or country.
- Find more information on Research4Life.
- Visit the HINARI website for more information and HINARI eligibility requirements
This grant is an expansion of the Elsevier Foundation funded Librarians without Borders®/E-library Training Initiative that has conducted HINARI/R4L training activities and developed/updated training material since January 2007. The MLA objective is to develop a community of librarians and information professionals that will continue to support HINARI/R4L training and related development of instructional material.
- Find more information on MLA's global initiative at the Librarians without Borders® web page and blog.
- The MLA Research Mentoring Program offers research assistance and advice to MLA members.
- Discounted MLA Membership fees are offered to international health information practitioners from HINARI-eligible Group A or Group B countries.
Examples of possible proposals include:
- Due to the current COVID-19 environment, we encourage individuals to submit digital-based proposals. Possible applications could include: institution, country or regional based Hinari/Research4Life virtual/distance training; evidence-based medicine/point of care teaching; topic-based instruction (i.e. COVID-19, gender/health issues, food insecurity, global health disparities, maternal/child health, etc.) or publishing and communication research training.
- Such proposals can include expenses for software, digital access at the host institution and for participants and IT support plus follow-up activities.
- Conduct workshops within your institution, country or region or at an institution where the applicant/organization has current ties.
- The trainer will need to demonstrate institutional support and a commitment to continue to work in the workshop’s institution or country– as a facilitator for further activities.
- Such proposals could include transportation and per-diem plus expenses for a workshop and a discretionary fund to support subsequent training.
- Create a new training module, distance learning course or training video or develop other virtual/distance learning formats.
- Increase mechanisms for promoting/marketing of HINARI & R4L programs and their training resources.
- Develop measurement tools regarding outcomes of training activities.
Eligibility
- Applicants are required to hold a professional library or information science qualification, but in the case of exceptional candidates, this criterion may be waived. Transcripts or a copy of the diploma should be sent with all applications.
- Applicants must be currently employed in a health and/or sciences/law library or a related science/legal information organization or retired from such establishments, or individuals in ‘information science’ academic positions or from non-governmental agencies focusing on R4L disciplines.
- Applications will be accepted from previously funded individuals or institutions.
- Individuals and/or institutions are eligible to submit proposals.
- Applicants are not required to be members of MLA.
Terms
- The grant award is contingent upon completion of the project within 15 months of notification of the award.
- Agreement to submit an interim (9 months) and final reports to MLA’s Librarians Without Borders® The final report that focuses on the results of the project will be posted on the LWB Blog and may be published in other health/science-related information venues or journals.
- More than one grant may be offered in a year. Grants range from $1500 to $5000 and are distributed in one payment.
- To maximize the impact of the grant funds in emerging/low-income countries, MLA will not accept institutional overhead fees/indirect costs in project budgets.
- Projects that require travel will be reimbursed only for actual travel after the trip; expense statements and receipts must be submitted to MLA.
- Grant funds (excluding travel) are distributed in June following the MLA annual conference.
- If there are no appropriate applications, as reviewed by the jury, the association may elect not to fund a grant or multiple grants in a given year.
- MLA will acknowledge applications upon receipt via email.
Application Checklist
- A detailed proposal limited to six single-spaced pages and if applicable, a spreadsheet and timeline appendices. The proposal must explain the following:
- The objectives of the project in the context of the training activities and how these relate to the goals of Research4Life.
- A project timeline that clearly notes the proposed activities to be conducted within 15 months.
- A separate budget document/spreadsheet, including any additional funding sources. The document will include detailed information on how the grant funds will be used.
- Detailed budget information, including additional funding sources.
- Note: allowable expenses depend on the project submitted. In the case of a physical workshop, it can include international travel and per diem for a trainer and other costs associated with the completion of the program. Regarding a virtual training program, it can include software, digital access costs and IT support, etc.
- Inclusion of measurement/evaluation tools during the project and, if possible, post-project outputs.
- Plans for reporting on the project, such as an MLA annual conference paper or poster or health/science related venues including relevant journals.
- Current curriculum vitae of the applicant or principal contact.
- Academic transcripts, or a copy of the diploma, from the applicant or principal contact.
- Up to three reference letters from individuals, not related to the applicant, that include observations regarding the project’s feasibility. (optional)
- Additional documentation related to the applicant’s qualifications to complete the project.
- Inclusion of in-kind contributions or additional direct funding from the institution or organization and/or identification of key participants besides those submitting the grant.
- The completed online application and all additional documentation must be received no later than December 1.
NOTE: Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Ready to Submit an Application?
- The grant application process is closed.
- The grant recipient will be announced in March 2021.
- Applications will open next in August 2021.
Past Grant Projects
2020 Grant Recipients
- Francina Ngula Simataa Makondo, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Training of Trainers Workshop in the Use of HINARI/GOALI and ARDI Research4Life Resources in Zambia
- Biliamin Oladele Popoola, University Library, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Nigeria
- Continuing Education Course and Training for Nigerian Medical Librarians and Research4Life Workshop
- Deodatus Sabas, Library, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Increasing and Promoting the Use of HINARI/Research4Life Resources among Health Care Professionals for Evidence-Based Practice and Systematic Reviews in Tanzania
- Fred Kwaku Hayibor, Library, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
- Increasing Access and Use of Research4Life HINARI and AGORA Resources by Health and Agriculture Professionals and Students in the Volta Region of Ghana
- Chandra Bhushan Yadav, Library, Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
- HINARI/Internet Resources Workshop for Librarian and Researchers Improving Access to Research4Life Programmes to Establish Research Culture in Nepal
2019 Grant Recipients
- Karin Saric, Norris Library, University of Southern California–Los Angeles; Sarah Young, Hunt Library, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; Erin RB Eldermire, Flower-Sprecher Library, Veterinary College, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Masimba Clyde Muziringa, College of Health Sciences Library, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; and Israel Mbekezeli Dabengwa, Library, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- Accessing Evidence-based resources and Conducting Systematic Reviews in Resource-limited Settings
- Alan Fricker, St. Thomas’ House Library, St. Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- The project will focus on Hinari training at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Sierra Leone (COMAHS).
- Ebele Nkiru Anyaoku, Medical Library, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria
- Training on Online Search for Healthcare Literature Using Research4Life HINARI Resource for Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
2018 Grant Recipients
- Emily J. Glenn, McGoogan Library of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center–Omaha
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The project will conduct training on HINARI and R4L resources in Gitwe, Rwanda/February 2019 for the University of Gitwe.
- Xan Goodman, AHIP, Lied Library, University of Nevada–Las Vegas and Jill Barr-Walker, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Library, University of California, San Francisco
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By conducting training at the organization’s conference, the project will enhance research capacity for members of the Nigeria Implementation Science Initiative (NISA). (See September 2018 Report and Evaluation)
- Phuntsho Norbu, Faculty of Nursing and Public Health Library, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
- R4Life training workshop for the librarians of tertiary institutions in Bhutan to improve access to R4Life programs.
- Mboni Amiri Ruzegea, Library Services, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Developing Research4Life interactive online training videos and open learning platform (OLP) to enhance research, teaching-learning experiences in higher learning institutions.
2017 Grant Recipients
- Israel Mbekezeli Dabengwa, Library, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- Information Literacy Skills Training and Digital Fluency in HINARI/Research4Life Resources for Healthcare Practitioners
- Irena G. Dryankova-Bond, Blais Family Library, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Science–Worcester, USA and Nguyen Hai Ha, Library and Information Center, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Improving Access and Use of HINARI/Research 4Life Resources by Health Professionals in Vietnam
- See October 2018 report.
- Lydia Hull Witman, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia–Charlottesville, USA
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Develop and deliver an integrated program of in-person and remote-site HINARI/R4L training. See October 2018 report.
- Sarah Young, Mellon Institute Library, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Building Systematic Review Capacity in Developing World Librarians Using Research4Life Databases
- See June 2018 report.
2016 Grant Recipients
- Martha Cecilia Garcia, Coordinator National Library of Medicine, Honduras, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
- E-Library Training and Access Enhancement to Research For Health Resources, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, 2016-2017
- Karin Saric, Information Services Librarian, Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California, USA
- Coordinate and conduct three HINARI workshops that support use of HINARI by specific user groups, and certify local trainers in Ghana. See April 2017 report.
- Alemayehu Bisrat, Health Informatics Expert and Project Coordinator, Center for eHealth, College of Health Sciences, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching and Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- HINARI/R4L Training Workshop for Postgraduate students of College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- See April 2018 report.
- Dativa Tibyampansha, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania and Megan von Isenburg, Duke University, North Carolina, USA
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College – Duke University Collaboration for Online Videos
- See March 2017 report.
Have a question? Contact MLA