NEMLA invites applications for the NEMLA National MLA Travel Grant to support costs for the Music Library Association’s Annual Meeting held on March 3-6, 2027 in Detroit, Michigan (https://conferences.wp.musiclibraryassoc.org/). Awardee(s) can apply for up to $1,500 in grant funds toward conference costs. Reimbursable expenses may include: conference registration; conference lodging; travel; and meals and incidental expenses at the GSA rate.
The application deadline is September 15, 2026. Music library professionals, support staff, library workers who deal with music materials even if it is not their primary focus, and library school students also eligible for this opportunity are encouraged to apply. We expect to notify the awardee(s) by the NEMLA Fall Virtual Meeting in October or November, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must:
- Reside at the time of the meeting in one of the states or territories comprising NEMLA (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont).
- Belong to one of the following categories:
- A graduate student (by the time of the conference in March 2027), aspiring to become a music librarian/archivist.
- A recent graduate (within one year of degree) of a graduate program who is seeking a professional position as a music librarian/archivist.
- A music librarian/archivist in the first two years of their professional career or who has recently been assigned music as a subject.
- A library paraprofessional/support professional working with music materials as a portion of their job responsibilities.
- A librarian/archivist without institutional funding to attend the conference.
Other considerations:
- A strong candidate will demonstrate financial need and interest in the field of music librarianship.
- In the absence of a qualified candidate, this grant may not be awarded.
- Preference will be given to members of NEMLA.
To Apply:
Applicants must submit all required information via the application form:
- Reasons for attending the upcoming MLA meeting.
- Explanation of eligibility.
- Description of your funding needs, including:
- An estimate of your anticipated costs, including applicable member registration rate, i.e. Reduced, Early Career, Student, etc.
- Information about any other grants, matching funds, or institutional support you expect to receive.
- Current résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Contact information (email and phone number) for one reference. Note: We do not require a letter of support.
If you have any questions, please contact Marci Cohen (rockhackcohen at yahoo.com)
The NEMLA Travel Grants Committee:
Marci Cohen
Anne Adams
Emily Colucci
Hannah Ferello
Jennifer Hadley
Carol Lubkowski