The application for the 2025 Intensive Learning Program (ILP) is now closed.
The application for the 2027 ILP cohort is expected to open in October 2026. During the application period, ARL will update this webpage with application information and host an informational session about the program, including how to apply.
Application
Application Timeline
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024: ARL issues Call for Applications
- Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 3:00–4:00 p.m. (EDT): Informational Session
- Wednesday, November 13, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. Hawaii–Aleutian time (UTC–10:00): Applications due to ARL
- December 2024: ARL notifies applications of selection decisions
- February 2025: Cohort launch
Informational Session
ARL hosted an informational session on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to share more about the ILP and answer questions. The session slides and recording can be accessed below.
Informational Session Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/umvAzN0DTkVt2jsSccQldEP064U6HD8LCh8FFBxeBfxF9s6tz8-qNGGM8w0-F_x9GUVnIIDiKe2AmxA.Qd3bfPn5IIRc0L4z
Passcode: $5i==vPu
Application Materials
All applicants are required to submit the following materials (questions, concerns, and requests for accommodations should be sent via email to learn@arl.org):
- Application form (requires Google account; program participation also requires a Google account; a free Google account may be created at https://www.google.com/account/about/) Please be prepared to respond to the following prompts—without including any personally identifiable information—in 2,500 characters (~350 words) or less:
- Describe why you are interested in participating in the ARL Intensive Learning Program—include your professional interests and goals.
- Describe one way you have changed since beginning your career in libraries/archives.
- Describe one challenge you have recently encountered in your career and how you responded to it.
- Describe what professional success is for you.
- Confirmation of institutional support via this form (PDF) by the institution’s executive leader (for example, university librarian/dean/director).
- Completed forms should be submitted via email to Mira Swearer at mira@arl.org either directly from the executive leader or with the executive leader cc’d.
This copy of the application form is being provided for applicants to view the entire application prior to completion. Applications must be submitted via the application form unless a request for accommodation has been approved.
Individuals with concerns about obtaining any of the required application materials and/or requests for accommodations within the application process should contact learn@arl.org.
Selection Process
Application materials are evaluated by the ILP Selection Working Group (SWG) using the criteria and guidance developed by the ILP Task Force. The SWG returns a ranked list of recommendations based on the evaluation of the application material to the ILP Task Force. The task force makes the final selection informed by the SWG rankings as well as cohort composition.
ARL staff will prepare the materials for the SWG to separate personally identifiable information (PII) from applicants’ responses to the reflection prompts. All materials must be received by ARL via the application form or email unless approval is granted for an alternative arrangement or accommodation. Application materials may be accepted after the due date based on the capacity of ARL staff and the Selection Working Group.
Masked Application Materials
The ILP application review will be conducted without sharing applicants’ PII with the SWG. PII is any information that could allow the specific identity of an applicant to be known: such as name, institution, title. While this information is collected via the application form, it will not be provided to the SWG.
Evaluation Criteria
Each application will be reviewed and scored by each SWG member using four evaluation criteria. Without including PII, applicants are encouraged to include details of previous achievements, current efforts, and/or future intentions as relevant to each category.
Higher scores will be awarded for applications that provide clear, relevant evidence for each criteria and include multiple, specific examples of action and impact where applicable.
Growth & Learning Mindset
Strong applications will demonstrate applicants’ curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for the profession as well as motivation to grow personally and professionally.
Awareness of Self & Communities
Strong applications will address applicants’ strengths and areas for growth; the impact of identities, values, and beliefs on how people experience situations; and the role of communities, relationships, and collaboration in the applicants’ careers.
Value from Program Participation
Strong applications will describe individualized benefits of program participation for applicants based on their specific needs, goals, experiences, and circumstances as well as articulate applicants’ intention to engage the components of the ILP.
Commitment to Service
Strong applications will demonstrate applicants’ commitment to serving as leaders, interest in improvement and innovation for their organizations and the larger profession, and awareness of the role of systems within and across professional settings.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Intensive Learning Program, you must be an emerging senior leader of a library, archive, and/or library system:
- Emerging is meant to describe having served in your current position for approximately three years or less.
- Titles may vary as administrative structures differ by institutions. Examples include associate & assistant directors/deans/university librarians.
- In most cases, senior leaders will report directly to an institution’s executive leader.
- Responsibilities should include direct contributions to the oversight of the institution and informing high-level, broad strategies and organizational management.
Tuition
Tuition for the eight-month program is US$5,900 for professionals employed in ARL member libraries, US$6,900 for all others, to be paid at the beginning of the program.
Tuition covers the following items:
- Expenses for administering and delivering the ILP
- Assessment tools administered during the program
- Program materials and audiovisual services for all events
- In-person ARL Learning Summit
- In-person site visit (with additional support from site visit host)
In addition to tuition, a fellow’s institution will be responsible for the following items:
- Time release for all program components
- Financial and coverage of expenses, including travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals, for all in-person program activities:
- ARL Learning Summit + Fall ARL Association Meeting
- ARL Member Institution Site Visit
- Providing opportunities for the fellow to apply their learning (e.g., implement the fellow’s ILP Leadership Action Plan) during and after program participation
A limited amount of scholarship funds are available to support select members of this cohort with expenses related to program participation.
