ARL is now accepting applications for the ARL/Music Library Association (MLA) Diversity and Inclusion Initiative (DII). This scholarship program, funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and by ARL and MLA, offers minority candidates an opportunity to pursue the master’s degree in library and information science (MLIS) while gaining valuable “hands-on” experience in a major music library. The initiative’s goal is to increase the number of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities within music librarianship by providing support for master’s-level LIS education and the practical experience critical for successful entrance into the profession.
Students who have applied to or who are enrolled in an MLIS program with a concentration, certificate, or courses in music librarianship are eligible to apply for the ARL/MLA DII. ARL will accept applications on a rolling basis.
Program Benefits
The ARL/MLA DII fellowship offers a generous compensation package for each program participant consisting of:
- Tuition stipend of up to $10,000 to be distributed over two years, in installments of $2,500 per semester.
- Paid internship in a partner music/performing arts library for a period not to exceed one calendar year. Internship sites at partner libraries will be determined by the applicant pool and by the capacity of potential partners to develop and manage the internships.
- Financial assistance for relocation to the area of the MLIS program into which the participant has been accepted.
- Paid student membership in MLA for one year.
- Support for travel to and attendance at an MLA Annual Meeting.
In addition to financial support, the ARL/MLA DII fellowship will provide each program participant with:
- Mentoring by a library/information professional employed in the partner library. Mentors will participate in formal training provided by ARL consultants.
- The opportunity to network with first-time MLA attendees and MLA officers and luminaries at special programs at the Annual Meeting.
- Career placement guidance and assistance provided by the MLA placement officer, programs at the MLA Annual Meeting, and other career resources and services available through the MLA and ARL websites.
Impact on One Fellow’s Career
Hear what former DII fellow Jonathan Sauceda has to say in the below two-minute video about how the program helped him advance his career in several ways. Sauceda notes, “[The DII] gave me the opportunity to work on several projects at the University of North Texas, which has one of the largest music libraries in the world. This helped give me the experience and qualifications I needed to make me competitive in the job market.” Sauceda also observes that the conversations in which he engaged at the MLA Annual Meeting—a trip supported by the DII—encouraged him to apply for positions that he may not have previously considered.
More Information & Applications
For additional information about the program and for a link to the application form, visit the ARL/MLA DII website.
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 125 research libraries in the US and Canada. ARL’s mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the web at https://www.arl.org/.
Founded in 1931, the Music Library Association (MLA) is the professional organization in the United States devoted to music librarianship and all aspects of music materials in libraries. MLA provides a professional forum for librarians, archivists, and others who support and preserve the world’s musical heritage. Additional information about MLA can be found at http://musiclibraryassoc.org/.
