CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship
- DATE DUE: The application deadline for this year's fellowship is June 30. (The entire application package must be submitted by this date.)
- Complete and print the application form, then mail with requested materials to the CLA office.
- 2009 RSPF recipient: Nick Velkavrh
The CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship encourages college seniors, college graduates and beginning library school students to prepare for a career in reference/information service librarianship.
Eligibility
Applicant must be a college graduate or college senior who has been accepted in an accredited MLS program (documentation is required). A graduate student already enrolled in an accredited MLS program (either part-time or full-time) may also apply if no more than eight credits have been completed by June of this year.
Applicant must be either:
(1) A California resident attending or planning to attend an ALA-accredited library school masters program in any state
OR
(2) A resident of any state planning to attend or attending an accredited library school masters program in California.
Applicant must be interested in preparing for a career in reference or information service librarianship and must agree, if awarded the fellowship, to take at least three classes specifically dealing with reference or information service.
Application
To apply, you must submit the following
- Final official undergraduate and current graduate transcripts (if applicable).
- Documentation of acceptance into accredited MLS program.
- A short (no more than 125 words) biographical statement that describes the your background and how you became interested in librarianship.
- Two letters of recommendation that support your interest in and potential for reference or information service.
- An essay discussing your career plans and preparation. (maximum 1000 words, typed, double-spaced).
- A photo of yourself. If you wish to submit a digital photo, send it to gretelm@cla-net.org with "RSPF Applicant Photo" as your subject. If you win, the photo will be shown at the Awards Dinner during our Annual Conference in November.
- Application form.
Award
One fellowship of $3,000 is awarded annually. Funds will be distributed in three equal payments to the award recipient by Reference Service Press. Each of the three payments will be made upon the applicant's successful completion of an ALA-accredited masters level reference/information service class with a grade of B or better (official transcript required). The award recipient has four years from the date of the award to complete the fellowship requirements (no extensions).
Sponsor
The funding for this fellowship is provided by Reference Service Press, a California-based publishing company. The program is administered by the California Library Association, an association of individuals and institutions devoted to the development of library service for all California residents.