The Academy will meet rigorous education and contact-hour requirements, in lieu of six to twelve (depending on the school) traditional coursework credit hours. Partner schools have designed programs that meet the needs of their students, are consistent with their organizational structures and systems, and take maximum advantage of this collaborative model.

Students apply to the ARL Academy through their home library school, in addition to the regular graduate admissions process.

General Requirements

• Masters degree, Ph.D., or other professional degree
• Interest in and demonstrable potential for significant contribution to the academic and research library community
• Willingness to relocate upon graduation
• Ability to commit to an intensive in-person leadership experience

The following items should be included in a completed ARL Academy application

• Résumé
• Official graduate school transcripts including the last academic semester completed
• Names and contact information of three references. One of the references should be a supervisor or graduate school faculty member who can submit a letter that speaks to the applicant’s:
  • Oral and written expression
  • Achievements
  • Interpersonal skills (e.g., ability to work as part of a team)
  • Initiative
• 350-word essay describing what attracts the applicant to a professional position in an ARL library. Criteria for evaluating the essays include:
  • Clarity
  • Ability to address contribution to one of the posted fellowship experiences
  • Enthusiasm
  • Potential growth perceived
  • Professional goals

Potential applicants should talk to their library schools for more information about the application process. Visit the participating universities to learn more about their specific application process.