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SPARKS AWARD for PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Travel stipend to attend the 2016 SLA Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA

Application Deadline: March 11, 2016

The Chemistry Division of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) is sponsoring a student/new member travel award to defray the costs of attending the 2016 SLA Annual Conference June 12-14 in Philadelphia, PA. The award is intended to encourage the professional development of student or new members of the Chemistry Division and encourage their participation in Chemistry Division activities.

TRAVEL AWARD: 
$1,000 stipend to attend the 2016 SLA Annual Conference and reimburse the successful candidate for one DCHE Continuing Education course at the 2016 SLA Annual Conference. The winner also receives an award certificate at the Annual Conference during the Chemistry Division Business Meeting.

ELIGIBILITY:
All student members of the Chemistry Division and all new members of the Chemistry Division (individuals who have joined since January 2015) are eligible. All applicants must have joined the Chemistry Division by March 1, 2016. See below for information on joining SLA and the Chemistry Division.

Individuals who accept a travel award or stipend for the annual conference from any other SLA entity are not eligible for the Marion E. Sparks Award for Professional Development.  Travel funds provided by your employer, your school (for students), or any other non-SLA affiliated group do not affect your eligibility.

The successful candidate will be required to submit a conference impressions essay to be published in Sci-Tech News, serve one year on a DCHE committee and serve as a reviewer for the 2017 Sparks Award applications.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: 
Please submit the following:

  • A brief essay that: a) articulates your objectives for professional development; and b) indicates what you hope to gain from attending the SLA Annual Conference. Maximum length: 2 pages.
  • Resume
  • Names of two references
  • Brief budget (expected expenses for registration, airfare, lodging, food and/or continuing education course).

DEADLINE: 
All applications must be received by midnight on March 11, 2016. The winner will be notified by March 25, 2016. Essays will be judged and the winner selected by a panel of SLA Chemistry Division members.

SUBMIT APPLICATION VIA EMAIL TO:

Tina Qin ( [email protected] ) 
Michigan State University Libraries

366 W. Circle Dr. W441,

East Lansing, MI 48824

Want to join the Chemistry Division of SLA? 
Not a member of SLA? 
Use this link to join SLA: http://www.sla.org/access-membership/join-sla/ 
When you join SLA, you can also join one division for free, additional divisions are $20/year.

Already an SLA member? To join the Chemistry Division either: 1) Login using your membership Username and Password and download the SLA Change/Add Units form: http://www.sla.org/access-membership/  Fax or mail the form to SLA. Or 2) Call 1-703-647-4936 and pay with a credit card.

HISTORY: 
The award is named to honor Marion E. Sparks, a chemistry librarian at the University of Illinois from 1913 until her death in 1929. Ms. Sparks contributed a great deal to the field of chemical information, her achievements include teaching courses on chemical information, and authoring and publishing what is argued to be the first book to formally address chemical literature and library instruction.

The Chemistry Division Web Site http://chemistry.sla.org/about/awards/sparks-award/

includes a listing of previous winners.