Applications for the ARSL-funded conference scholarships are NOW OPEN! These competitive scholarships are offered to conference attendees to help cover the cost of in-person attendance. The 2024 conference scholarship applications will be open until Tuesday, April 2 at 3 pm PT / 4 pm MT / 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET! This year the conference is being held in Springfield, Massachusetts, from September 11-14, 2024. About the Conference #ARSL2024 is the conference for rural and small libraries. Our conference planners and presenters understand the constraints of shoestring budgets, small spaces, and limited staffing within small and rural libraries, as well as the unique opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Our conference is packed full of information you can take right back to your library-no scaling down required. Stay tuned for information about how to attend, present, sponsor, and/or exhibit at #ARSL2024! About Springfield Join ARSL in Springfield, Massachusetts, a historic and charming city nestled in the heart of New England! As the birthplace of basketball and home to The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield is a city steeped in history and innovation. Our conference coincides with the kickoff of the iconic Big E fair<https://www.thebige.com/>, which provides a great opportunity for those who would like to extend their stays to join the region's largest and most celebrated fair, which represents all six New England states. *NEW* Manton Foundation Scholarships for New England Library Workers Eligibility Requirements: * ARSL and non-ARSL members * Currently employed at a small and/or rural library (part-time or full-time) in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. * Previous and first-time conference attendee * A degree or certification is not required for eligibility Award: * Complimentary registration * Three nights stay in a conference hotel * $300 travel stipend To Register for a Scholarship: https://arsl.memberclicks.net/arslconferencescholarship#!/ Dr. Bernard Vavrek Conference Scholarship for LIS Students Eligibility Requirements: * Current part-time or full-time student taking Library and Information Science classes * First-time conference attendee (not counting virtual attendance) Award: * One year of ARSL membership * Complimentary registration * Three nights stay in a conference hotel * $500 travel reimbursements Founders Conference Scholarship for Early-Career Library Workers Eligibility Requirements: * ARSL member in good standing * Applicant has been working in a library career for 1-5 years * Currently employed at a small and/or rural library (part-time or full-time) * First-time conference attendee (not counting virtual attendance) * A degree or certification is not required for eligibility Award: * Complimentary registration * Three nights stay in a conference hotel * Up to $500 travel reimbursements The Empowering Library Workers of Color Conference Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: * ARSL member in good standing * Is a member of one or more marginalized and/or underrepresented ethnic, racial, or cultural identity groups (including but not limited to Black or African American; American Indian, First Nations, or Alaskan Native; Spanish, Hispanic, or Latine/a/o/x; Asian; Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Chamorro, or other Pacific Islander; Middle Eastern or North African) * Currently employed at a small and/or rural library (part-time or full-time) * First-time conference attendee (not counting virtual attendance) * A degree or certification is not required for eligibility Award: * Complimentary registration * Three nights stay in a conference hotel ARSL Angels Conference Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: * ARSL member in good standing * Currently employed at a small and/or rural library (part-time or full-time) * First-time conference attendee (not counting virtual attendance) * A degree or certification is not required for eligibility Award: * Complimentary registration * Three nights stay in a conference hotel To Register for a Scholarship: https://arsl.memberclicks.net/arslconferencescholarship#!/ Lisa M. Shaw [she/elle/ella/ye/±×³à/iyada/¬Ó¬à¬ß¬Ñ/ea] Small/Rural Libraries & Workforce Development Specialist Division of Library Development Maine State Library 242 State Street SHS 64 Augusta ME 04330 www.maine.gov/msl<http://www.maine.gov/msl> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> (207 ) 747-8717 (text or call) What I¡¯m reading: Deadly Little Secrets by Pamela Crane What I¡¯m listening to: ¡°Love Me or Leave Me¡± - Day6; ¡°Touchin¡¯ and Movin¡¯¡± - Moon Byul; ¡°Only for a Moment¡± - Eric Nam ¡°If you want to see something clearly, look in the opposite direction.¡± [Midsomer Murders]