Purpose

The purpose of the Ilene F. Rockman Scholarship is to subsidize conference attendance for members of the CARL community at the biennial CARL Conference or the biennial ACRL Conference, depending on the conference year. The objective of this scholarship is to encourage and support professional development in academic librarianship.

Eligibility

The following CARL members are encouraged to apply: library and information science students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours (or its equivalent) towards their degree; and early-career librarians. Early-career librarians are defined as individuals working in the profession for approximately 2 years or less. Membership in CARL is required before or at the time of application.

Award

The annual award amount is typically $2,000. Distribution of the award funds will vary depending on the conference year and modality. This year, one candidate will be selected for a scholarship of $2,000 to support attendance at the ACRL 2025 Conference, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Funding is intended to subsidize the cost of registration, travel, and accommodations. However, depending on the conference location, the award funds may not cover all expenses.

Application Packet

All applicants must complete the online application. As part of this, applicants will need to attach the following items:

• Two Letters of Recommendation (PDF)
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (PDF) that outlines related work experience, professional activities, internships and honors
• Personal Statement (PDF) A statement of 500 words or less that outlines your interest in academic librarianship, speaks to the other criteria below and addresses how your attendance at the conference will support your goals related to academic librarianship.

Criteria

All applications must include examples of the following:

• A commitment to a career in academic librarianship
• A commitment to continuous lifelong learning
• A commitment to diversity and equity
• Demonstrated growth in leadership and communication skills

Evidence in these areas may best be demonstrated by the personal statement indicating interest or work experience, volunteer work, teaching or other relevant employment, publications, and financial need.  Candidates should also indicate what specific competencies or characteristics they believe they have to offer the field of librarianship, what they can bring to the profession, and what they have done to demonstrate proven leadership potential. The criteria can also be demonstrated through the professional references or vita.

Submission Deadline

Applications must be received by December 8, 2024 via the online application. Late or incomplete packets will not be considered.

The scholarship committee will announce the recipient in January 2025.