The Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship supports the attendance of one MLIS student or recent graduate at the annual President’s Institute. The next award recipient will receive a scholarship of US$1,000 plus registration to attend the President’s Institute on February 11–12, 2026, in Chicago-Rosemont, Illinois. The theme of the 2026 ARL President’s Institute is “Unlocking Innovation.” This scholarship is supported by generous donations to the Julia C. Blixrud Memorial Fund.
Awardee Selection Criteria
The successful applicant will meet the following criteria:
- Be a current MLIS student or a graduate who is within two years of graduation (Spring 2024 graduates are eligible to apply.)
- Exhibit evidence of being a creative thinker who is passionate about the topic of the President’s Institute
- Demonstrate strong potential to contribute to the profession
To Apply
To apply, complete the online application form, and upload your essay or visualization along with your résumé or CV. Your letter of recommendation must be on letterhead, signed, and emailed directly from a supervisor or professor to JCBfund@arl.org. See the ARL website for complete application instructions.
Applications and supporting documents are due to ARL by 11:59 p.m. Hawaiʻi standard time (HST) on Friday, November 7, 2025. If you have questions about the scholarship or application process, email JCBfund@arl.org.
More Information
For more information about the scholarship, including the requirements to be fulfilled by the scholarship recipient, see the ARL website. If you have questions about the scholarship or the application process, please email JCBfund@arl.org.
About the President’s Institute
The President’s Institute provides opportunities for participation by ARL member institutions and others in our field each year during the start of the ARL presidency. One of the ARL Institutes, this interactive event convenes a broad community of individuals, subject-matter experts, middle managers, senior leaders, and general executives from ARL libraries and beyond on top-of-mind issues facing research libraries. As part of the President’s Institute, the Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship recipient is selected, attends, and writes a report on the institute to be published by ARL. For questions, please email events@arl.org.
