Washington DC—The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is now accepting applications for the ARL / Music Library Association (MLA) Diversity and Inclusion Initiative (ARL / MLA DII). This scholarship program, funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ARL member libraries, offers minority candidates an opportunity to pursue the master’s in library and information science degree while gaining valuable, “hands-on” experience in a large academic music library environment. The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities within academic music librarianship by providing support for the graduate education and the practical experience critical for successful entrance into the profession. The partner libraries for the program are the University at Buffalo, SUNY, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of North Texas, and University of Pittsburgh.

Program Structure

The ARL / MLA DII Scholarship offers a generous compensation package for each program participant consisting of:

Tuition stipend in support of MLIS education;
Paid internship in a partner music/performing arts library for a period not to exceed one calendar year;
Financial assistance for relocation to the area of the MLIS program into which the participant has been accepted;
Paid student membership in MLA and the American Library Association (ALA) for one year;
Support for travel to and attendance at an MLA Annual Meeting . MLA will develop and host a career development workshop that will address strategies for job searching, skills development, résumé writing, interviewing skills, and other topics related to job placement.

In addition to financial support, the ARL / MLA DII Scholarship will provide each program participant with:

Mentoring by a library/information professional employed in the partner library. Mentors will participate in formal training provided by ARL consultants;
The opportunity to network with first-time MLA attendees and MLA officers and luminaries at special programs at the annual meeting;
Career placement assistance for program participants provided by the MLA placement officer, programmatic events at the MLA annual meeting, and other career resource services available through the respective MLA and ARL Career Resources Websites.

For more information about the program and for a link to the application form, please visit http://www.arl.org/diversity/arl-mla-dii/ . 


The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 126 research libraries in the US and Canada. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the Web at http://www.arl.org/ .

The Music Library Association (MLA) is the professional association for music libraries and librarianship in the United States. Founded in 1931, it has an international membership of librarians, musicians, scholars, educators, and members of the book and music trades. Complementing the Association’s national and international activities are eleven regional chapters that carry out its programs on the local level. As of July 1, 2011, MLA is also the United States branch of IAML, the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres. MLA is on the Web at http://musiclibraryassoc.org/ .

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