NMRT Conference Stipends
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New Members Round Table (NMRT) will annually award three stipends of $500.00 each to assist with the cost of registration and expenses for the TLA Annual Conference. Two of the stipends will be awarded to librarians who are working in a Texas library and are new to the profession and/or new to TLA. The third stipend will be awarded to a student who is currently enrolled in an MLS program.
Requirements for Eligibility
- Must be a current member of Texas Library Association and New Members Round Table.
- Must have no more than five years experience as a librarian in a Texas library and/or be currently enrolled in an MLS program.
- Must agree to attend and be recognized at NMRT’s General Business Meeting at the TLA Conference.
- Must agree to volunteer for at least one hour at NMRT’s exhibit hall booth at annual conference.
- Must agree to serve on an NMRT Conference Stipend Award Committee for the following year.
- Must agree to submit a 400-500 word reflection of the TLA Annual Conference experience. This reflection will be published in the next edition of the NMRT Newsletter. Quotes from the reflection may also be used in promotional materials for NMRT.
Selection Committee
The NMRT officers will make up the selection committee for the first year. Beginning with the 2013 awards, the Conference Stipend Awards Committee will be chaired by NMRT’s Secretary/Treasurer and will include the previous year’s stipend recipients and at least one other NMRT member volunteer.
Committee Timeline
- December 2011 – Application form will be made available on the TLA and NMRT web sites.
- February 15, 2012 – All applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted by this date. Documents received after this date will not be considered for the 2012 stipends.
- February 2012 – Committee members will select stipend recipients.
- March 1, 2012 – Notices will be sent both to those applicants receiving a stipend and to those who are not receiving a stipend.
- TBA – TLA will mail initial $250 check to stipend winners.
- At Conference – Stipend winners will be introduced at the NMRT General Business Meeting during TLA conference. The committee chair will present checks for the remaining stipend ($250) at this meeting.
- May 2012 – Stipend winners will send their conference reflections to the NMRT Chair within 30 days of TLA Conference.
Evaluation Guidelines
The following guidelines shall be used when reviewing applications:
- The applicant demonstrates interest in professional development.
- The applicant shows a commitment to libraries and their missions.
- The applicant has good written communication skills and expresses herself/himself well.
- The applicant has an expressed need for financial assistance.
- The applicant will continue with TLA involvement following TLA Annual Conference by serving on the NMRT Conference Stipends Awards Committee the following year.
Funds
One half of the conference stipend ($250) will be made available to the stipend winner prior to TLA Conference. The winners shall contact the TLA Office for this advance in order to defray conference expenses. The remaining funds ($250) will be awarded at the NMRT General Business Meeting at TLA Annual Conference.
Applications