MLA Conference Grants

Thanks to many generous donors, up to 6 grants will be available to attend the 2025 Conference.  The intent of this scholarship is to ease the financial burden of conference attendance, in order to make the conference more equitable and inclusive. This year we are offering full or partial grants. We encourage you to advocate for continuing education budgets at your institution. 

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

1. The applicant is a member of the Maine Library Association (or will be by May 2025).

2. The applicant is currently employed by a library or media center in Maine; or is a student pursuing a degree in Library Science; or is seeking a position at a library or media center in Maine. 

3. The applicant’s institutional budget does not offer enough, or any, professional development funding. 

4. The applicant is willing to provide a brief testimony about their conference experience to be used for future conference promotion. 

Applicants are free to apply for the full grant or to request funding for lodging only, or registration only. Grant recipients are expected to sign up for a shift at the registration desk or as a room monitor. Priority will be given to those who have not received a scholarship in the previous three years. Awarded funds will be applied directly to the applicant's registration and will include up to two nights of lodging. Grants are overseen, administered, and conferred by the Scholarship Committee. The Committee reserves the right to award all, part, or none of the amount requested. 

Application Instructions

Complete online application form. The application includes a long form question that requires applicants to describe financial barriers that prevent them from attending the conference. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The 2025 application deadline is February 24, 2025

Materials submitted will be held in confidence by the Committee and become the property of the Maine Library Association.

Please send any questions to:

Anna Faherty
Scholarship & Grant Committee
secretary@mainelibraries.org