Awarded since December 2011, the SALALM Scholarship was established to encourage professional and leadership development in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian studies academic librarianship.
Established to encourage professional and leadership development in Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies librarianship, the award of up to $1500 enables master’s candidates in ALA-accredited library, information, or archival studies programs in the U.S. and Canada to attend the next SALALM annual conference, June 5-9, 2023, hosted by the Library of Congress, Dumbarton Oaks, and Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Since its founding in 1956, the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials, SALALM, has provided the only national and international forum focused on Latin American studies research librarianship, library collections, and services. The SALALM Conference Attendance Scholarship will include a one-year membership in the organization.
Who Should Apply:
Applicants able to demonstrate a strong interest in Latin America, the Caribbean, or their diaspora, or Iberia, and who have career aspirations involving service to academic users seeking information about or researching topics involving the Latin American, Caribbean, or Iberian regions are encouraged to apply.
Interest may be demonstrated through previous work, internships, undergraduate or graduate-level study, involvement through volunteer programs with governmental, non-governmental, or private sector organizations, and research and publication on topics relevant to the area. Competency in one of the area’s major languages is highly important.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be master’s degree candidates in ALA-accredited programs in library science, information science, or archival studies (with equivalent accreditation where applicable) in the United States or Canada. Applicants must have successfully completed at least one quarter or semester of study, and recipients must be enrolled students at the time the award is made. Anyone having received this scholarship in previous years or a travel grant from SALALM is not eligible to apply.
Selection Criteria:
- Knowledge of Latin America, the Caribbean, and/or Iberia
- Commitment to a career in academic libraries and information science or a related field
- Record of academic achievement
- Competency in one or more of the area’s languages
Application Materials:
- Completed application form
- Personal statement (maximum of 500-800 words)
- Current résumé (not to exceed 2 pages)
- Unofficial transcripts for all college and university study
- Letter of reference