Learning Opportunities

The State Library of North Carolina is now accepting applications for scholarship funds for North Carolina library staff to attend the Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference, October 20-23, 2021, in Reno/Sparks, Nevada. There are scholarship opportunities for both in-person and virtual conference attendance.

A conference scholarship will cover the following expenses

For applicants requesting in-person attendance:

• Conference registration costs (The State Library will pay conference registration for scholarship recipients),
• Travel expenses (flight, baggage fees, rental car, public transportation),
• Hotel expenses (hotel for up to 3 nights (Nights: October 20-23).

Grant agreements between the State Library and the awardees' library will cover hotel, airfare, and travel costs not to exceed $1,500 based upon receipts submitted after the conference. The State Library will pay for the registration costs separately and provide a conference registration code for awardees. All other expenses such as meals and other incidentals are the responsibility of the staff person and/or library. Be aware that no purchases are allowed until all paperwork has been signed and submitted for each awardee. This scholarship is reimbursable through the awarded library.

For applicants requesting virtual-only attendance:

Virtual Conference registration fees (The State Library will pay conference registration for scholarship recipients).

The application is available online and will close at the end of the business day (5:00 pm) on Friday, July 30, 2021. All applicants will be notified of their application's status by Friday, August 6. The brief essay question on the application about benefits of conference attendance will also be weighted heavily in the awards. Please discuss how attendance at this conference will benefit your library and community.

These scholarships are not counted toward the Continuing Education Scholarships offered by the State Library of North Carolina.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Lauren Clossey at lauren.clossey@ncdcr.gov.