22. Scholarships and Grants Committee

Purpose

The Scholarships and Grants Committee reviews the eligibility of candidates for receipt of educational funds under the Society's Scholarships and Grants Program.

Procedures

1. Upon allocation of a budget, the Committee Chair prepares an article or announcement for Law Library Lights, the LLSDC Listserv, an LLSDC website on the availability of scholarship and grant money and the procedures for applying for it.  The Committee meets as needed to consider applications.

2. The Committee revises the application form for scholarships and grants as necessary, maintains an electronic version on the LLSDC website, and sends them to members upon request.

3. When a completed application is received, the Committee determines if the applicant meets the Society’s guidelines (see below).  Grants are made to qualified members based upon the number of applications received, the funds available, and the relative potential of the grant to foster the goals of the Society and its membership.

4. Names of grantees are given to the Board for approval.  When approval is granted they will be sent to the Treasurer for the issuance of checks of the specified budgeted amount.  The Treasurer issues a check, not to the individual receiving the grant, but to the institution or organization sponsoring the event for which the grant is made.

5. As a condition of receiving the grant, the recipient will be required to perform a service for the Society.  This may include writing an article for Law Library Lights about the meeting attended, doing a presentation for a Society, SIS, or Committee program, assisting with the opening reception, holiday party, or closing banquet, or hosting a Society program, or other volunteer service.

6. Should any vendor or third party offer to donate funds to the Society for distribution under the Society’s Scholarships and Grants program, they should be informed that such donations are not considered to be tax deductible as charitable contributions under Federal income tax law.

7. The Committee Chair is responsible for being familiar with the Society’s vendor support policies as described in the General Procedures section of this Manual.  Specifically the Chair should seek vendor support only after first consulting with the Corresponding Secretary.  Upon obtaining vendor support, the Chair should promptly notify the Corresponding Secretary as to the type and level of contribution.

Guidelines

1. The applicant must be a voting member of the Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, D.C. at the time the application is submitted.  The minimum length of membership for an applicant should be 6 (six) months in order to demonstrate a genuine interest in law librarianship.

2. Funds will be awarded only for registration fees of professional meetings, seminars, workshops, classes, course work and other forms of continuing education.  The activity must be relevant to law librarianship.  Professional meetings include, but are not limited to, AALL annual meetings and meetings of chapters of AALL.  In no case will grants be awarded for cost other than registration fees; travel, accommodation and other attendant expenses cannot be awarded.

3. Students in a MLS program who are members of the Society in the student category are eligible only for specially set-aside scholarship funds for degree-granting programs.  The Scholarships and Grants Committee will determine the amount available for students each year, as funds permit.  The percentage of total funds for these special student scholarships will not be over 50% of the total funds available to the Committee.

4. The Scholarship and Grant Committee will reserve the right to award a scholarship in full or in part for coursework at a Library School.  Grants will not exceed the actual cost of registration for professional meetings, seminars, or conferences.

5. Distribution of scholarships and grants shall be based on demonstrated benefit, relative need, length of membership, and furtherance of the objectives of the Society’s continuing education program.  Determinations will be made at the discretion of the Scholarships and Grants Committee.

6. A member may receive one grant or scholarship during the Society’s fiscal year.  Preference will be give to those applicants who have not previously received an award.

7. In addition to the scholarships awarded from the budgeted funds through the regular application process, the Committee may award a special one-time scholarship for full or partial tuition reimbursement. The award could be named as a memorial award for one particular distinguished past member.

8. Decisions to deny scholarships or grants are at the discretion of the Committee and the LLSDC Board.

9. Applicants are asked to provide a supervisor’s signature to ensure permission has been given to attend the continuing education program.  This does not apply to Library Directors/Managers.

10.  If, for any reason, the scholarship or grant cannot be used for the purpose for which it was awarded, or if duplicate funds subsequently become available, the recipient is expected to notify the committee immediately upon learning they will be unable to use the award.  The scholarship or grant will be returned to the Society.  A statement to this effect is included on the application.

11.  The Scholarships and Grants Committee will disperse funds according to the LLSDC fiscal year; that is, funds will be awarded before the fiscal year ends on May 31.  Scholarship awards will be made three times a year unless special circumstances arise.

a) Applications for fall classes, that is, classes held from August-December, will not be accepted after August 1 of the class year.

b) Applications for spring classes, that is, classes held from January-May, will not be accepted after December 1 of the class year.

c) Applications for summer classes, that is classes held from May-August, will not be accepted after April 1 of the class year.