MiALA Annual Conference Scholarships
The 2026 MiALA Conference Scholarship Subcommittee is pleased to announce the availability of multiple scholarships to support current MiALA members' attendance at the Annual Conference. The scholarship will cover the cost of full conference registration, as well as reimbursement for up to two nights lodging in the conference hotel. The scholarship recipient and/or recipient’s institution will be expected to cover any remaining conference costs.
Application
Important Dates
Eligibility
To apply for a MiALA Annual Conference Scholarship, an individual must meet the following criteria:
Be a current individual/retiree member of MiALA in good standing; and MiALA annual dues must be current and paid prior to applying. Not a member? Join here!
Current MiALA Board of Directors and Conference Planning Committee members are NOT eligible to apply.
Past scholarship recipients may not apply for another MiALA Annual Conference scholarship for five years.
All scholarships are non-transferable. If a member is selected and cannot attend, an alternate will be selected from among eligible entries.
Grants/prizes/awards obtained from other MiALA programs that cover conference registration fees may not be used in conjunction with the MiALA Annual Conference scholarships and are non-transferable.
Evaluation
The selection committee will factor in the following criteria as a guide in making their selections:
Applicants that are new to library employment or are a library student;
First time attendees to the annual conference;
Financial hardship due to budgetary restrictions at applicants' institutions;
Goals articulated for attendance in support of professional and/or academic development, specifically referencing past or current experiences in the field and the conference theme ("Finding Our True North: Creating Connections to Light Our Way");
Other information provided as appropriate
The review board shall consist of members of the MiALA Conference Planning Committee. The Scholarship Subcommittee will moderate the selection process and utilize the criteria above to identify at least five recipients and two alternates. The decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
2026 Conference Scholarship Subcommittee members are:
Caitlyn Stypa, Lansing Community College (chair)
Jen Fiero, Jackson College
Linda Miles, Michigan State University
Testimonials
Amy Klebba, 2023 MiALA Scholarship Recipient, Collections Access Librarian at Kettering University Library says:
"Applying for a scholarship is worth your time and effort. Winning the scholarship enables you to have your conference fee covered and two nights of your hotel stay. It's one less thing to worry about while you are planning your conference trip. It is super easy to fill out the form and the result will be worth it."
Beth Lieberman, 2019 MiALA Scholarship Recipient, North Central Michigan College says:
"As a library support staff member at a community college with a limited budget, I would not have been able to attend the conference without the assistance provided. The knowledge I gained from the keynote speaker, various breakout sessions, and one-on-one conversations with fellow attendees is invaluable ⦠I strongly encourage anyone wanting to attend MiALA’s Annual Conference to apply for one of the several scholarships available."
If you have any questions, please contact one of the Scholarship Committee chair Caitlyn Stypa (milesli3@msu.edu and stypac@lcc.edu)