Professional Development Fund

The PNC/MLA Professional Development Fund is designed to encourage participation in PNC sponsored professional programs and courses by PNC members. The PNC Board recognizes that meetings and courses are often too far away for many members to attend. The aim of the fund is to improve access for members and to equalize opportunities for attendance at programs and courses which improve member's professional development.

Professional Development Fund Awardees

All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria. The applications will be reviewed by designated members of the Executive Board, and all applicants will be notified of the Board's decisions. The preferred deadline for submitting an application for the 2011 PNC/MLA meeting will be September 1, 2011, to take advantage of early discounts in registration and lodging.  For 2011, there are funds for two member scholarships up to $599 and 3 student scholarships up to $200 for assistance with travel and lodging.

NOTE: Funds are reimbursed/disbursed to recipients after attendance at the selected meeting/program/course.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicant must be a current PNC member.
2. Applicant must not have received PNC Professional Development Funds during the past two (2) calendar years.
3. The written application [pdf] must be received by the designated deadline.

Factors to be considered in awarding of grants:

1. Distance to be traveled to event (generally greater than 50 miles).
2. Applicant is a new professional or recently returning to profession.
3. Applicant's current PNC committee activities or other PNC involvement.
4. Availability/non-availability of other programs in the immediate area.
5. How attendance will benefit the requestor's library/patrons/community.
6. Availability of institutional funding for past 2 years.

Award amounts will be determined by the Board based on number of applicants and amount of funds available. Applicants are encouraged to attend the entire Annual Meeting.  Partial scholarships may be awarded for CE attendance only.

The deadline for application for the 2011 PNC/MLA meeting is September 1, 2011.  Applications received after that date will be considered only if scholarship funds have not been awarded in full.

Mail, email, or fax the application and written paragraph to the PNC Treasurer: