GENEALOGY   


  Round Table

 

CONFERENCE STIPEND

The Genealogy Round Table (GRT) of the Texas Library Association will award a stipend of $250 annually to cover the cost of registration and conference expenses for the TLA Annual Conference for a librarian or paraprofessional who works with a genealogy collection or genealogy patrons. The purpose of the GRT Conference Stipend is to encourage TLA and GRT membership and provide a means for supporting participation in the TLA Annual Conference. Recipient will gain insight into the Genealogy Round Table by volunteering during the annual conference.

 REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY:

  • Recipient must be a member of the Texas Library Association

  • Recipient must be employed as a librarian or paraprofessional in a Texas Library

  • Recipient must work with a genealogy collection or genealogy patrons

  • Recipient must agree to be a Genealogy Round Table volunteer during the conference

  • Recipient must submit a completed application form and letter of reference on or before the stated deadline

  • Recipient must submit a report evaluating the conference, stating whether it fulfilled expectations, and what was learned that can be used in the recipient’s library. Report must be written and submitted to the GRT Conference Stipend Committee Chair within 30 days of the end of the conference

  • Recipient must agree to attend all GRT sponsored or co-sponsored pre-conferences, programs and/or meetings during the conference

DEADLINE: Submit APPLICATION (doc) and letter of reference postmarked by January 10 for the conference in the spring of that year. Submit to:

Laurie Mahaffey, Chair, GRT Conference Stipend Committee
Central Texas Library System, Inc.
1005 West 41st Street
Austin, Texas 78756

TIMELINE: The GRT Conference Stipend Committee will use the following timeline as a guide for its work.

  • August 23: Copies of the application form with a letter outlining the requirements listed below will be mailed to TLA District Chairs, System Coordinators, the Texas State Library, and TLA for inclusion in TLACast, Library Developments, Texas Library Journal, and TLA unit newsletters.

  • January 10: Deadline for application postmark.

  • January 17: Committee members begin review of applications. Committee members will score applications on a scale of 100.  The top four applications will be placed in rank order.

  • January 27: Committee members will be polled for their decisions on the recipients. In the event of a tie, committee members will be re-polled.

  • February 3: All applicants will be notified of the results of their application submission. Notification of the winner will be sent to the Local Arrangements Chair for volunteer assignments.  Notification will also be sent to the TLA office and to the employer of the winning applicant.

  • April (TLA Annual Conference): Introduce stipend winner at GRT Membership/Business meeting at TLA conference.

  •  May (30 days after the final date of TLA Annual Conference): Stipend winner will send conference report to GRT Conference Stipend Committee Chair (address above).

 EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS:

GRT Conference Stipend Committee members will use the following guidelines that are listed in priority order with the most important first.

  1. The applicant demonstrates interest in professional development.
  2. The applicant attends genealogy workshops. (How are they involved?)
  3. The applicant shows commitment to libraries (TLA membership, attendance at district meetings, etc.).
  4. The applicant has good written and oral communication skills.
  5. The applicant states why they want the stipend and how they will use what they learn.

An attempt will be made over the years to award stipends to applicants from all parts of the state and from all sizes of libraries.

GRT Conference Stipend Committee members will rank applicants on a scale of 100. In the event of a tie, the Chair will re-poll the Committee for new rankings. Committee members will not vote on applicants from their own library.

FUNDS:

An amount of $250 will be given to the stipend winner prior to the TLA Annual Conference. The winner will contact the TLA office (which the GRT Conference Stipend Committee Chair has notified) for this advance in order to help defray registration and conference expenses.

COMMITTEE SELECTION:

The Chair of the GRT will appoint the Chair of the GRT Conference Stipend Committee from among committee member volunteers. 

 

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