Applications are now being accepted for SEMLA's travel grant. This grant supports portions of travel, meeting registration, hotel, and subsistence expenses for a chapter member to attend this year's annual chapter meeting, hosted by Columbus State University in Columbus, GA, October 12-14, 2006. Supporting our colleagues' involvement in the life of the chapter is a priority! Please note that music library paraprofessionals/support professionals and library school students are eligible for this opportunity and are encouraged to apply.

The grant may be up to $500 for one individual or may be divided among up to three individuals at the discretion of the grant committee.

I. Applicants must reside in one of the states or territories comprising SEMLA (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico), and also be in at least one of the following eligible categories:

1. A graduate library school student (by the time of the conference in October 2006) aspiring to become a music librarian;
2. A recent graduate (within one year of degree) of a graduate program in librarianship who is seeking a professional position as a music librarian;
3. A music librarian (holding a Master of Library Science degree or qualifications granting an equivalent status at her/his employing institution, e.g. a certified archivist with other graduate degree working extensively with music materials) in the first two years of her/his professional career, or;
4. A library paraprofessional/support professional working with music materials as a significant portion of his/her job responsibilities.

Applicants in categories a-c must not have attended more than one prior SEMLA meeting before applying for the grant. This restriction does not apply to paraprofessionals/support professionals.

II. Applicants must submit the following to arrive by August 28, 2006:

1. A letter of application which includes an explanation of the reasons for attending the SEMLA annual meeting, a justification of financial need, and a budget (the single or double room rate in Columbus, GA is $110 plus 14% tax per night). For those applicants currently working in libraries or archives, justification of financial need must include evidence that one has sought financial support from one's employing institution to attend the meeting and that such request was either denied or insufficiently met;
2. A current résumé or vita;
3. Two letters of support. Where applicable, one of the letters should be from a current supervisor.

Award recipients who are not already members of SEMLA are expected to join prior to attending the October meeting.  A membership form is available on the SEMLA web site.

Annual student membership in SEMLA is currently only $5.00; a regular membership is $10.00.

Hotel accommodations will be funded at the double-occupancy rate, i.e., one-half of the $110.00 plus tax mentioned in II/1, preceding.

III. Mail application and supporting materials to arrive via U.S. post or electronically as Word attachments by August 28, 2006 to:

Diane Steinhaus -or- dstein@email.unc.edu
Chair, SEMLA Travel Committee
Music Library
CB# 3906
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill , NC 27514-8890

If you have questions, please contact Diane by e-mail (dstein@email.unc.edu) or phone (919) 966-1113.

Recipients will be notified by September 1, 2006, and announced on SEMLA-L immediately thereafter.

Please note that SEMLA may elect to pay directly for travel and hotel expenses on the recipient's behalf and only supply the balance (if any) of an award following the Columbus meeting. If mileage for a personal vehicle is awarded, it will be paid at the current IRS rate of $0.44 per mile, also after the meeting.