A Multitude of Stories

RBMS 2025

Tuesday, June 24 – Friday, June 27, 2025

New Haven, Connecticut

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2025 RBMS Conference, A Multitude of Stories, to be held in New Haven, Connecticut, and online, from June 24-27, 2025. The deadline to apply is December 13, 2024, and applicants will be notified in early March 2025.

RBMS is committed to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in its membership and the special collections and archives professions. Accordingly, preference is given to applicants from underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or ability. For more information about the RBMS commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, please visit the RBMS website. You can also give to the RBMS Scholarship Fund to directly impact these efforts.

Full and partial scholarships to the RBMS conference will be awarded. Full scholarships include a waiver of the conference registration fee (a $195 – $360 value depending on registration type) plus a travel stipend ($750). Partial scholarships provide complimentary registration (a $195 – $360 value depending on registration type) and may or may not include a travel stipend depending on applicant need/location ($400). The majority of scholarships will be awarded to support those who have not previously attended RBMS; a limited number of scholarships are available to individuals who have previously attended RBMS.

Eligibility

All candidates must be currently enrolled in a library, information science, or archival studies program; a graduate of such a program; OR currently employed or volunteering as a professional or paraprofessional in a rare books, special collections, or archives capacity.

Criteria

The Scholarships Committee will take into consideration the following criteria when reviewing applicants:

• Evidence of commitment to and interest in the rare books, special collections, and/or archives fields
• For first-time conference participants: Interest in contributing to the profession
• For returning conference participants: Interest in contributing to the profession through proposed conference participation (speaker/moderator) and/or RBMS committee participation
• Potential to benefit professionally from attendance at the conference
• Financial need

Incomplete applications without initials on the final question may not be considered.

The application includes education and ALA/ACRL/RBMS Membership information along with the following questions: 

• What has motivated you to pursue your current career path? (300 words max) 
• Provide a brief statement about your interest in RBMS and in attending the Section's 2024 Conference. (300 words max)
• How do you see increased involvement with RBMS affecting your current career path? (300 words max)
• Please supply a brief statement of financial need. For those who are employed, this means describing the conference/travel support provided to you by your institution. All applicants will be considered for both full and partial scholarships. (200 words max)

Consideration

In awarding the scholarships, preference will be given to:

• Applicants from underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or ability
• Applicants employed or volunteering at an institution (or in a position) that primarily serves one or more underrepresented and/or historically marginalized group(s)
• Applicants who are ACRL/RBMS members
• Applicants who have not previously received a scholarship from ACRL/RBMS

Requirements

Scholarship recipients are required to attend the RBMS conference and complete the conference evaluation. To help us ensure the ongoing improvement of the scholarship program, all scholarship recipients are also asked to submit a post-conference email with feedback for next year's Scholarship Committee to consider.

The deadline to apply is December 13, 2024. All applicants will be notified in early March 2025. Please see the RBMS Conference Website for more details and to apply: https://web.cvent.com/event/eec2ebfb-c5d9-47b3-8485-6c1def8b7a62/summary.

Please feel free to share this opportunity widely!