Professional Development Program Guidelines

1. Purpose
   The purpose of the Continuing Education Committee of the Northern New York Library Network’s Professional Development Program is to provide assistance to the staff of member libraries in their professional development. Financial aid from this program enables staff to attend conferences, seminars, workshops and other educational activities which are not available locally and for which funds might not otherwise be available. Eligible activities do not need to be sponsored by a library or library organization.

2. Conditions
   As a condition of the grant, recipients agree to share the expertise or knowledge gained with the North Country library community.

3. Eligibility
   The program is available to all staff of NNY Library Network’s member organizations. Eligible events include conferences, seminars, workshops, graduate coursework in library and information science, undergraduate coursework in a work related field and other opportunities. Applications for assistance may be submitted every two years.

4. Application Schedule
   Applications for funds are accepted at any time. They will be reviewed and awards will be made on a bimonthly basis. Applications must be submitted in time to be considered and a response received before the event takes place. Review deadlines for applications is the first working day of January, March, May, July, September, and November.
   Applications should be dated by the last working day of the month preceding these review deadlines and must be submitted electronically, using the format of the application as it appears on the NNYLN website. The program announcement, flyer, or course description URL is to be included if available.

5. Selection
   Applications are reviewed and selections made by a panel of previous Professional Development Grant recipients.

6. Award Funds
   The Northern New York Library Network will annually budget an amount for Professional Development grants. The maximum award is $500. Funds will be paid on a reimbursement basis. Receipts for tuition and travel must be submitted for reimbursement. Eligible expenses include registration, tuition, lodging, mileage and/or commercial transportation, and meals. Meals will be paid on a per diem basis; receipts must be submitted for all other expenses.

7. Criteria
   
   1. The hierarchy for awards are:
      
      1. Top Priority: Job related conference, seminars, workshops not readily available in the North Country (with an emphasis on first time attendance and library school coursework).
         
      2. Second Priority: Job related, graduate or undergraduate coursework.
         
      3. Lowest Priority: Multiple applications from the same member to the same conference.
   2. Other factors in awarding stipends shall be (in order of importance):
      
      1. Unique or special offering not readily available in the North Country.
         
      2. Relevance to current or future responsibilities.
         
      3. Availability of partially matching funds from staff member or employer.

8. Information Sharing
   As part of the application, applicants must outline in detail the method they propose to use to share expertise or knowledge acquired at a sponsored event. This might, for example, consist of a workshop presentation, a newsletter article, service on a committee or task group, an offer to mentor someone in that area of expertise, or other method as appropriate.

   Recipients are required to submit a written summary of their impressions and experiences with regard to the activity funded by Professional Development Grant funds. This submittal should accompany the request for reimbursement.

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