GUIDELINES FOR GRANTS The Montana Library Association Professional Development Committee awards grants which are designed to encourage participation by Association members in professional development programs. The committee awards grants in three categories: 1. MLA Conference Grants. These grants are available for members who want to attend the Association's annual conference. Fifteen $150.00 grants are available. Up to five of the grants will be made available to those members who are new to the profession and to the Montana Library Association. 2. Professional Development Grants. These grants are available to those Association members who want to further their professional development by attending a national or regional conference or professional development event. Grants are available to individuals who have maintained a minimum of three (3) consecutive years of MLA membership and who have not received a national grant from MLA within the last five (5) years. The Association budgets $1,600.00 annually for Professional Development Grants to qualified members. Applications for funds should be submitted prior to the event. The Professional Development Committee will review applications in October and April. Applications to be considered in the October review are due no later than October 1. Applications to be considered in the April review are due no later than April 1. 3. Leadership Institute Grants. These grants are available to those Association members who want to further their professional development by attending the Leadership Institutes hosted by MPLA or PNLA. Grants are available to individuals who are members of MLA and meet the criteria for application for the respective institutes. The Association budgets $1,000.00 per institute to qualified members. Applications for funds should be submitted once confirmation of acceptance to the institute has been received. The Professional Development Committee will review applications upon receipt and make their recommendations to the Professional Development Committee Chair. All applications for grants must adhere to the restrictions and criteria listed below. MLA Conference Grant applications will be reviewed by the Professional Development Award Jury, which consists of the following Association members: Professional Development Committee Chair, President, and immediate Past President. All applicants will be notified of the Award Jury's decisions. Restrictions and Criteria MLA Conference Grants 1. Applicant must be a current member of the Montana Library Association. 2. MLA Conference Grant recipients must live further than fifty (50) miles from the conference site. 3. Applicants for an MLA Conference Grant must not have received an MLA Conference Grant (called MLA Travel Grant prior to FY 1994-95) in the last two calendar years. Applicants applying for one of the up to five Conference Grants designated for new members grants must have no more than two (2) years as an MLA member. Previous MLA members who are rejoining MLA do not qualify for the grants designated for new members. 4. Upon notification of award, MLA Conference Grant recipients will receive a Conference Grant Report Form to be submitted to the Professional Development Committee within thirty (30) days of the final day of the annual conference. Award checks will be issued following receipt of Conference Grant Report Form. 5. Disputes regarding awards will be resolve by the Board of Directors or its Executive Committee. 6. Grant recipients unable to attend the annual conference will not receive the award. Restrictions and Criteria Professional Development Grants 7. Applicant must be a current member of the Montana Library Association. 8. Professional Development Grants cannot be applied to the MLA annual conference and are designated for regional and national professional development opportunities. 9. Applicants for Professional Development Grants must not have received a Professional Development Grant in the last five (5) calendar years and must have been an MLA member for at least three (3) consecutive years. 10. Applications must be submitted prior the professional development event for which funds are being sought. 11. Professional Development Grants will not exceed the actual amount associated with the program/event for which the grant is requested. Award will be based upon the budget submitted by the applicant. 12. Recipients will be required to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to receive funds. 13. Disputes regarding awards will be resolved by the Board of Directors or its Executive Committee. 14. Grant recipients unable to attend the professional development event will not receive the award or will be required to reimburse the Montana Library Association, as the case may be. Restrictions and Criteria Leadership Institute Grants 1. Applicant must be a current member of the Montana Library Association and must have been an MLA member for at least the two (2) previous years. 2. Leadership Institute Grants are designated for leadership institutes specified by the MLA Board. 3. Applicants for Leadership Institute Grants must not have received a Leadership Institute Grant previously. 4. Leadership Institute Grants will not exceed the actual amount associated with the program/event for which the grant is requested. Awards will be based primarily upon the budget submitted by the applicant. Applicants may apply for Professional Development Grant monies but will be given secondary preference for those monies unless they have not been granted an MLA Leadership Institute grant. 5. Recipients will be required to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to receive funds. 6. Recipients will be required to either present a program at an MLA sponsored retreat or conference and/or may be asked to serve as a mentor by the MLA mentor program. 7. Disputes regarding awards will be resolved by the Board of Directors or its Executive Committee. 8. Grant recipients unable to attend the leadership institute will not receive the award or will be required to reimburse the Montana Library Association, as the case may be. to encourage participation by Association members in professional development programs. The committee awards grants in two categories:

  1. MLA Conference Grants. These grants are available for members who want to attend the Association's annual conference. Fifteen $150.00 grants are available. Up to five of the grants will be made available to those members who are new to the profession and to the Montana Library Association.
  2. Professional Development Grants. These grants are available to those Association members who want to further their professional development by attending a national or regional conference or professional development event. Grants are available to individuals who have maintained a minimum of three (3) consecutive years of MLA membership and who have not received a national grant from MLA within the last five (5) years. The Association budgets $1,600.00 annually for Professional Development Grants to qualified members. Applications for funds should be submitted prior to the event. The Professional Development Committee will review applications in October and April. Applications to be considered in the October review are due no later than October 1. Applications to be considered in the April review are due no later than April 1.

    All applications for grants must adhere to the restrictions and criteria listed below. MLA Conference Grant applications will be reviewed by the Professional Development Award Jury, which consists of the following Association members: Professional Development Committee Chair, President, and immediate Past President. All applicants will be notified of the Award Jury's decisions.

    Restrictions and Criteria

    MLA Conference Grants
    1. Applicant must be a current member of the Montana Library Association.
    2. MLA Conference Grant recipients must live further than fifty (50) miles from the conference site.
    3. Applicants for an MLA Conference Grant must not have received an MLA Conference Grant (called MLA Travel Grant prior to FY 1994-95) in the last two calendar years. Applicants applying for one of the up to five Conference Grants designated for new members grants must have no more than two (2) years as an MLA member. Previous MLA members who are rejoining MLA do not qualify for the up to five grants designated for new members.
    4. Upon notification of award, MLA Conference Grant recipients will receive a Conference Grant Report Form to be submitted to the Professional Development Committee within thirty (30) days of the final day of the annual conference. Award checks will be issued following receipt of Conference Grant Report Form.
    5. Disputes regarding awards will be resolve by the Board of Directors or its Executive Committee.
    6. Grant recipients unable to attend the annual conference will not receive the award.

    Restrictions and Criteria

    Professional Development Grants
    1. Applicant must be a current member of the Montana Library Association.
    2. Professional Development Grants cannot be applied to the MLA annual conference and are designated for regional and national professional development opportunities.
    3. Applicants for Professional Development Grants must not have received a Professional Development Grant in the last five (5) calendar years and must have been an MLA member for at least three (3) consecutive years.
    4. Applications must be submitted prior the professional development event for which funds are being sought.
    5. Professional Development Grants will not exceed the actual amount associated with the program/event for which the grant is requested. Award will be based upon the budget submitted by the applicant.
    6. Recipients will be required to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to receive funds.
    7. Disputes regarding awards will be resolved by the Board of Directors or its Executive Committee.
    8. Grant recipients unable to attend the professional development event will not receive the award or will be required to reimburse the Montana Library Association, as the case may be.

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