Overview
The South Central Library System (SCLS) will offer scholarships to attend a variety of in-person conferences. This program includes conferences like the Wisconsin Library Association’s fall and spring conferences, UW iSchool’s Back in Circulation Again and Power-Up Conferences, and national conferences like the American Library Association Annual Conference, Public Library Association Conference, and the Association of Rural and Small Library Conference.
Note: Library staff may use SCLS CE Grant funds to attend one-day conferences like the Support Staff & Circulation Services, Government Information Day, or the iSchool’s Lead the Way conference. Scholarship applicants who don’t receive a scholarship are encouraged to utilize the CE Grant funds to help offset the cost of attending a conference.
The Scholarship
The value of the scholarship will vary depending on the conference the recipient attends with the following maximums and limits:
- $1,000 for the Fall WLA Conference
- $700 for the spring WAPL Conference
- $1,000 for iSchool multi-day conferences
- $2,000 for ALA, PLA, or ARSL conference
Note: The number of scholarships available is based on demand and funding availability.
The scholarship covers:
- Conference registration at the member and early bird rates
- Transportation to/from the conference
- Conference lodging during the conference dates
- If possible, please use the library's tax-exempt certificate when making a payment at Wisconsin locations
- Meals
- Breakfast: $11; Lunch: $17; Dinner: $27
- Total per day $55
- Exception: covers set cost of a meal when it is part of a meeting/program (like an author lunch or dinner at a conference)
- If a conference meal is included in the registration fee, that meal will not be reimbursed (for example, ARSL and WLA registration includes both breakfast and lunch)
The scholarship will not cover:
- Pre-conference sessions (except for the WLA Leadership Development Institute)
- Fundraising events
- Conference receptions (like the Awards & Honors reception)
- Conference tours
- Rental car
- Transportation for sightseeing
- Sightseeing costs
- Alcoholic beverages
- Conference swag/t-shirts
- Items from conference exhibitors
- Airport/airline wifi charges
Eligibility and Requirements
- Applicants must submit a completed application form before the scholarship deadline
- Deadlines will vary by conference and the date will be noted on the application
- Scholarship recipients and their library directors (if necessary) will be notified by email
- Applicants must have a minimum of one year of experience working at an SCLS member public library
- Preference will be given to applicants who are first-time conference attendees
- Scholarship winners must share their conference experience and knowledge gained with library colleagues via a written report submitted to SCLS within 30 days of the conference (a form will be provided)
- Receipts will be required for all expenses, except mileage to and from the airport or conference location
- SCLS can reimburse the library in two payments: one payment before the conference (registration, airfare), and another payment after the event (mileage, meals, lodging, etc.)
- See below for sample reimbursement forms
- Note: No reimbursements will be made in December each year
- Scholarship recipients:
- Cannot receive multiple scholarships
- Cannot use both Scholarship and CE Grant funds for the same event
- Are not eligible for another scholarship for 3 years
- One scholarship recipient per library or branch for each event
- Maximum of two scholarship recipients per library each grant cycle (July 1 - June 30)
Apply
- WLA Conference, November 5 - 8, KI Convention Center, Green Bay
- Application form - deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 25, 2024