State Library Offering Grants to Attend the 2024 ARSL Conference in Springfield, MA
May 13, 2024
The State Library of Iowa is excited to announce grants to four Iowa libraries to allow a librarian on staff to attend the 2024 Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference in Springfield, MA, September 11-14, 2024. Each grant offers up to a $1,500 reimbursement for registration, hotel, and transportation.
The purpose of the grants is to help Iowa libraries improve library service to their communities through continuing education and training for library personnel. The ARSL Conference is especially relevant to the majority of Iowa libraries, which serve populations under 2,500.
The grants will be issued to the library (not the individual traveling) in the form of a reimbursement of up to $1,500. Other incidentals, such as meals, will need to be covered by the library or the employee. Because the conference is in the northeast, costs are anticipated to be at least $2,000 this year. The library will pay the upfront costs and submit receipts to the State Library for reimbursement of the following items:
- Registration: Scholarship recipients will be eligible for the Early Bird member rate of $295.
- Hotel: The cheapest conference rate lodging is $169 plus taxes & fees.
- Transportation: Travel to/from conference (air or train) & ground transportation to and from the airport/train station to the conference site. Parking at and ground transportation to and from the home airport/train station may also be included.
These competitive grants have a short application form which will require a paragraph (200 words or less) explaining why you want to attend, what you hope to get from the conference and how you plan to share the information with your institution and the wider library community.
See complete details about the grant program and access the link to apply by May 31, 2024 at the link below:
ARSL Conference Grants are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of Iowa.
Update: June 20, 2024
Congratulations to the four libraries awarded 2024 ARSL Conference Grants!
- Eldora Public Library
- Marcus Public Library
- Mount Pleasant Public Library
- Malvern Public Library