The Illinois Library Association Awards Five Inclusive Travel Grants for National Conferences

February 24, 2022

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) has announced the recipients of five grants of $1,000 each to Illinois librarians and library staff from populations underrepresented in librarianship to attend a national conference of their choice. Three will attend the 4th Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in St. Pete Beach, FL, October 5-9, 2022; two will attend Association of Rural and Small Libraries National Conference in Chattanooga, TN, September 14-17, 2022.

Eligible recipients include librarians and library staff who have faced structural barriers to national participation, including those eligible for ALA’s Spectrum Scholarships (those who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern/North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander); people with disabilities; and people who identify as LGBTQUIA+; and rural librarians or library staff. 

Round one grant recipients and their selected conferences are:

  • Jessica Carapia, Gail Borden Public Library District, Elgin; 4th Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, St. Pete Beach, FL, October 5-9, 2022
  • Claire Crawford, Geneseo Public Library District; Association of Rural and Small Libraries National Conference, Chattanooga, TN, September 14-17, 2022
  • Nincy George, Reaching Across Illinois Library System, Burr Ridge; 4th Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, St. Pete Beach, FL, October 5-9, 2022
  • Vann Harris, Oak Park Public Library; 4th Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, St. Pete Beach, FL, October 5-9, 2022
  • Melanie Wyatt, Polo Public Library District; Association of Rural and Small Libraries National Conference, Chattanooga, TN, September 14-17, 2022 

The grants, supported by ILA’s Diversity Scholarship Fund and by a sponsorship from Fast Forward Libraries, a project of Standerfer Consulting, are intended to make the library field more accessible to all, via direct support to our colleagues. Grants are awarded in rounds depending on available funding and conference dates; a second round for one additional grant is now open.

For more information, visit www.ila.org/inclusivetravelgrants.

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