The American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries invites applications for its Fellowship program.
The Future of Libraries Fellowship will provide an individual or group with a stipend of $10,000 to advance new ideas and perspectives for the future of libraries through the creation of a public product – report, white paper, video, resource, tool – that will help library professionals envision the future of library collections, services, spaces, technologies, or partnerships. Projects may build on existing work, research, or initiatives of the Association, its Offices, Divisions, and Round Tables, or explore new directions and interests.
The fellowship is available to individuals in the library profession as well as those from other disciplines with a demonstrated interest in libraries and their futures. The fellowship does not include a residency requirement and international colleagues are encouraged to apply.
For 2017, Joe J. Márquez and Annie Downey from Reed College Library were selected for a project to expand their library service design heuristics. Other proposals from 2017 that received high marks from reviewers proposed projects that advanced innovation, design, or creativity among library professionals; explored the next stage or application of current library trends (makerspaces, open education resources, collective impact) in new and important directions; or surveyed and documented potential library futures and communicated them in interesting ways to the public or new audiences. While this is an intentionally broad call for proposals, individuals are encouraged to think in terms of projects that will have an impact beyond a single library or circumstance.
Further information, including considerations for those interested in applying, instructions for submitting an application, evaluation and selection information, and a timeline for the fellowship, are available at the Future of Libraries Fellowship page.
The Center for the Future of Libraries works to identify emerging trends relevant to libraries and the communities they serve, promote futuring and innovation techniques to help librarians and library professionals shape their future, and build connections with experts and innovative thinkers to help libraries address emerging issues. The Center is modeled on the successful American Alliance of Museums' Center for the Future of Museums and was made possible by a planning grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-00-13-0096-13].
