New Attendees

Welcome Newcomers
You are invited to attend the 45th Annual Preconference of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. The preconference will be held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, from June 21 to June 24, 2004, and will consist of plenary sessions, seminars, short papers, workshops and social activities, such as tours and receptions, of interest to librarians and others who work with rare books, manuscripts and other types of special collections.

Please note that no business or committee meetings of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section are held during the preconference. These meetings take place at ALA annual and midwinter meetings. This year the ALA Annual Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, from June 24 to June 30. RBMS also sponsors a program session on a topic of interest during the ALA Annual Conference.

Traditionally the preconference and the ALA Annual Conference are held in the same place; when no appropriate local institution can host the preconference, an alternative location is found. A significant number of attendees at the RBMS preconference will be traveling on to Orlando after the final preconference session in New Haven.

Membership
Check the RBMS Membership information page for details regarding Rare Books and Manuscripts Section membership.

The "Buddy" Program
If you are a new member of RBMS and would like a "buddy" to guide you through the preconference experience or, indeed, through ALA annual or ALA midwinter meetings, visit the RBMS Membership and Professional Development Committee "Buddy" Program pages. You do not have to be a first-time preconference attendee to request a buddy.

Scholarship Information
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section is offering scholarships to RBMS members to subsidize first-time preconference attendance at its 45th Annual Preconference. Seven full scholarships of up to $695 will be awarded. Full scholarships include a waiver of the preconference registration fee and reimbursement of housing and travel expenses ($500 for RBMS members and $620 for full-time student registrants). Four partial scholarships, consisting of a waiver of the registration fee only (up to $195 for members and up to $75 for full-time student registrants), will also be awarded. Full-time student registrants awarded partial scholarships will also receive $120 towards housing and travel expenses. To help us assure the ongoing improvement of the scholarship program, winners will need to submit a post-conference evaluation letter by the end of July 2004.

RBMS is committed to increasing diversity in the section. Starting this year, two preconference scholarships have been designated for applicants of underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, one for a professional librarian and one for a student. The remaining scholarships are open to all applicants who meet eligibility requirements. For more information about the RBMS commitment to diversity, please visit its website at http://www.rbms.nd.edu.

Eligibility
Candidates must be members of RBMS who have not previously attended a preconference and who do not have sufficient institutional support to attend the preconference in New Haven.

To Apply:

  1. On a cover sheet, supply your name, mailing address, email address (if any), telephone number, fax number (if any), and your ALA membership number.
  2. Supply a brief statement of interest (less than 1 page).
  3. Supply a brief statement of financial need (less than 1 page). Please indicate clearly whether you wish to apply for a full scholarship, a partial scholarship or both.
  4. Enclose a letter of reference from a professional librarian or archivist or an instructor in an ALA-accredited library program or an archival studies program.
  5. Enclose a signed statement from your supervisor confirming that you will be able to attend the preconference if you receive a scholarship. You may print out and use the downloadable confirmation form.
  6. Include a completed copy of the ACRL Scholarship Application.
    (Available on the ACRL website at www.ala.org/ala/acrl/aboutacrl/resourcesforwork/acrlforms/scholarshipapplication.htm).

Send application materials to:
J. Fernando Peña
The Grolier Club
47 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10022
ATTN: RBMS Preconference Scholarships

Deadline for applications:
Applications must be received on or before Friday, April 2, 2004. Scholarship recipients will be notified on or before Friday, April 30, 2004.


 

© 2004 American Library Association