DLF Forum Fellowships

The deadline to apply for 2019 Fellowships has passed. Learn about our 2019 Forum Fellows here. Please visit the DLF Fellowships page in early 2020 for information about funding for the next Forum. Thanks for your interest.

With support from its partners, the Digital Library Federation will offer a number of fellowship opportunities to enable a diverse group of practitioners to attend the 2019 DLF Forum. We welcome applications from everyone—DLF member affiliation is only required for our DLF Student & New Professional Fellowships. 

Most awards come with full support, including:

• DLF Forum registration

• A complimentary room at the conference hotel for three nights (October 14-16)

• A stipend for travel and board ($500 max; $1,000 for International Fellowship applicants)

• Invitations to special networking opportunities

• The option to present a short lightning talk during the conference

In return, Fellows will be asked to share a brief reflection on their experiences after the Forum. We ask that applicants apply local professional development funding where available, so that we may give as many awards as possible. 

Read more about each opportunity below and apply for DLF Forum fellowship opportunities by following the instructions found at the bottom of the page. Applicants will not receive more than one award but may apply for awards in up to two categories.

>> Jump to Application Instructions

ARL+DLF Fellowships

About the Opportunity

The Forum typically achieves good gender balance for both speakers and attendees, but our project to increase participant diversity and create an ever-more-inclusive community is an ongoing one. To this end, DLF began partnering with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in 2013 to welcome “Forum Fellows from Underrepresented Groups,” now known as the ARL+DLF Forum Fellowships.

Thanks to IMLS for its support of the DLF + HBCU Library Alliance’s Authenticity Project—a yearlong fellowship and mentorship program that provides funding for our 2019 Fellows to attend the Forum. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should identify as members of a group (or groups) underrepresented among digital library and cultural heritage practitioners. These include—but are not limited to—people of Hispanic or Latino, Black or African-American, Asian, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, First Nations, American Indian, or Alaskan Native descent. Applications from people who could contribute to the diversity of the Forum in other ways are also warmly welcomed

Students & New Professionals Fellowships

About the Opportunity

The DLF warmly welcomes newcomers to the profession and new voices to our community and the Forum. To that end, once again this year, we will independently fund a number of DLF Forum Fellowships for Students and New Professionals. The Forum is an excellent place to learn about the latest advances in digital librarianship and allied fields, to meet new colleagues and contacts, and to get involved with DLF interest groups and initiatives.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must come from a current DLF member institution. The following full- or part-time individuals are eligible:

• Employees (regardless of employment classification) at DLF member institutions who have been in the profession of digital libraries, archives, or museums (LAMs) for fewer than 3 years, and whose work is wholly or predominantly related to their creation, maintenance, and/or use.

• Graduate and undergraduate students at DLF member institutions who make a significant contribution to a digital LAM  endeavor and who may be considering a career in a relevant field.

Focus Fellowships

About the Opportunity

These DLF-funded awards support established professionals in their pursuit of career growth and development. If you’re looking to focus (or re-focus!) your efforts on a particular project, subject, or goal, attending the Forum is a great way to expand your knowledge and make connections. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should identify as mid-career library professionals. We define “mid-career” broadly and intend for this fellowship to support those who would not be eligible for our Students and New Professionals Fellowship or other funding targeted at early-career professionals. Eligible applicants for this award are likely to consider themselves fairly well-established in their careers. Applications from people who could contribute to the diversity of the Forum are especially warmly welcomed.

International Fellowships

About the Opportunity

A new category this year, these awards encourage attendance from members of the digital library community who are based in countries other than the United States. CLIR+DLF’s work is increasingly global in scope, and the challenges we face are ones we have in common—so we look forward to welcoming attendees who bring international perspectives to the Forum.

 Awardees may apply for a stipend of up to $1,000 (US) for travel and board.

Eligibility Requirements

Open to applicants based in countries outside of the United States. 

GLAM Cross-Pollinator Registration Awards

About the Opportunity

Museum and library staff face similar challenges in the digital landscape and yet have too few opportunities to come together. Through partnerships with other GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) organizations, we strive to bring new voices and perspectives to our Forum and to send accomplished DLF practitioners to valuable conferences they might not otherwise visit. In 2019, DLF will continue its tradition of “cross-pollination” with the art museum community, offering complimentary registration to a representative from each of our partners: AIC (the American Institute for Conservation), ARLIS/NA (Art Libraries Society of North America), MCN (the Museum Computer Network), and VRA (the Visual Resources Association). 

Please note that GLAM Cross-Pollinator Registration Awards provide only DLF Forum Registration. Other costs must be covered by the attendee/their employer.

Thanks to the Kress Foundation for its 2015-17 support of this program and of the DLF Museums Cohort and to our partners at AIC, ARLIS/NA, MCN, and VRA for making reciprocal registration awards available in the coming year!

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for these registration awards, an applicant must be a member in good standing of one of the four organizations listed above. Special consideration will be given to professionals working in art museums or with art collections. Later in 2019, DLF-affiliated individuals will have the opportunity to apply for free registration at each partner conference. 

To Apply

The deadline to apply for 2019 Fellowships has passed. Learn about our 2019 Forum Fellows here. Please visit the DLF Fellowships page in early 2020 for information about funding for the next Forum. Thanks for your interest.

Please contact awards@diglib.org with questions.

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