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Travel Grant

Purpose

The APALA Travel Grant will fund one APALA member’s attendance at the 2026 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition. The goals of the award are to:

  • Provide APALA members the opportunity to network and gain professional development by participating in the ALA Annual Conference through financial assistance
  • Encourage sustaining APALA membership and organizational participation through the opportunity to attend a national annual meeting for first-time ALA Annual attendees

The APALA Travel Grant will provide up to $500 (based on actual registration costs) to one awardee to cover the cost of registration for the 2025 ALA Annual Conference. The American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference will take place in Chicago, June 25 -29, 2026.

Sponsor

The 2026 APALA Travel Grant is sponsored by Springer Nature.

Springer Nature Logo

Eligibility 

  • Applicant must be a current APALA member.
  • Students or employees, with or without an MLS or equivalent degree, working in libraries, archives or other information organizations, are eligible to apply.
  • Recipient will provide a short conference report reflecting on their experience for the APALA website or Newsletter.

Criteria for Selection 

Award applications will be evaluated by members of the APALA Scholarship and Awards Committee. Criteria for selection are:

  • Completed online application
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Applicants who are attending ALA Annual for the first time and/or are not receiving additional funding for conference attendance will be prioritized
  • Strength and clarity of the applicant’s personal statement (500 words or less)

How to Apply

Complete the APALA Travel Grant online application by Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

Selection Procedures and Timeline

  • Applications Due: Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
  • Applicants Notified of Final Decision: Monday, March 23, 2026
  • Recipient Announced: Monday, March 30, 2026
  • Travel Grant check distributed to Recipient at ALA Annual: June 25-29, 2026
  • Recipient’s Conference Report Due: Monday, August 3, 2026

Administrative Procedures

  • The APALA Travel Grant shall be administered under the By-Laws of APALA.
  • In the event that no applicants satisfy the criteria, no travel award will be given, with the option to grant an additional award the following year.
  • An APALA member who receives any APALA grant/award may not receive another grant/award in the same year.

Contact Information

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the APALA Scholarship and Awards Committee: scholarships@apalaweb.org.

Past Travel Grant Winners

  • Joe Lee (2025)
  • Lara Gamboa (2024)
  • Erika Fitzpatrick (2023)
  • Kristine Techavanich (2022)
  • Hana Kim, Andrew Carlos, and Mitsuko Brooks (2021)
  • Jeneanne Ka-makana-lani Len Tai Lock (2020)
  • Lisa Zhu (2019)
  • Eunah (Lee) Snyder and Katrina Nye (2018)
  • Janet Mumford (2017)
  • Jennifer Shellman (2016)
  • Shanna Shiah (2015)
  • Gerie Ventura (2014)
  • Linda Nguyen (2013)
  • Catherine Phan (2012)
  • Cynthia Mari Orozco (2011)
  • Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozado (2010)
  • Sally Ma (2009)