The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has extended the application deadline for the Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship through Tuesday, September 8. The scholarship supports the attendance of one master of library and information science (MLIS) student or recent graduate at the annual ARL Fall Forum. The scholarship was established in 2015 to honor the memory and extend the legacy of longtime ARL staff member Julia C. Blixrud. It is supported by generous donations to the Julia C. Blixrud Memorial Fund.
The theme of the ARL Fall Forum 2020, which will be held online on Thursday, October 8, is “Leading Libraries toward Anti-racism in a Changing World.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued protests against white supremacy, the Fall Forum will explore how research libraries can keep anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront and contribute to progress in transforming organizational culture and society for the better. Safiya Umoja Noble, associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and author of the best-selling Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, will deliver the sixth annual Blixrud Memorial Lecture.
Scholarship Components
The award covers the registration fee for the Fall Forum and provides a scholarship of $1,000.
Awardee Selection Criteria
The successful applicant will meet the following criteria:
- Be a current MLIS student or a graduate who is within two years of graduation
- Exhibit evidence of being a creative thinker who is passionate about the topic of the Fall Forum (The theme of the 2020 ARL Fall Forum is “Leading Libraries toward Anti-racism in a Changing World.”)
- Demonstrate strong potential to contribute to the profession
Scholarship Requirements
The scholarship awardee will fulfill three requirements:
- Attend the online 2020 ARL Fall Forum, scheduled for Thursday, October 8
- Actively use social media to communicate about the Fall Forum during the event
- Write a summary of their participation to be published by ARL after the event
Applications
To apply, review the application components, complete the online application form, and upload your essay or visualization along with your résumé or CV. Your letter of recommendation must be on letterhead, signed, and emailed directly from a supervisor or professor to JCBfund@arl.org.
Applications and supporting documents are due to ARL by 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Visit the Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship Application Process webpage for more details. If you have questions about the scholarship or application process, email JCBfund@arl.org.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 124 research libraries in Canada and the US whose mission is to advance research, learning, and scholarly communication. The Association fosters the open exchange of ideas and expertise, promotes equity and diversity, and pursues advocacy and public policy efforts that reflect the values of the library, scholarly, and higher education communities. ARL forges partnerships and catalyzes the collective efforts of research libraries to enable knowledge creation and to achieve enduring and barrier-free access to information. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
