Applications are now being accepted for a travel grant, funded principally through the generosity of the national Music Library Association (MLA), which has awarded the Atlantic Chapter $500 for this purpose. The grant supports travel, meeting registration, hotel and subsistence expenses to attend the Chapter's annual meeting at College Park, Maryland, November 15-16, 2002. Please note that music library paraprofessionals/support professionals and library school students are among those eligible for this opportunity and are encouraged to apply.

The grant may be up to $500 for one individual or be divided among up to three individuals depending on the applicants' needs.

Applicants must reside in one of the states or territories comprising ATMLA (Southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia), and also be in at least one of the following eligible categories:

a) A graduate library school student (by the time of the 2002 meeting) aspiring to become a music librarian;

b) A recent graduate (within one year of degree) of a graduate program in librarianship who is seeking a professional position as a music librarian;

c) A music librarian (holding a Master of Library Science degree or qualifications granting an equivalent status at her/his employing institution, e.g. a certified archivist with other graduate degree working extensively with music materials) in the first two years of her/his professional career, or;

d) A library paraprofessional/support professional working with music materials as a significant portion of his/her job responsibilities.

Applicants must submit the following to arrive by October 1, 2002:

1. A letter of application which includes an explanation of the reasons for attending the ATMLA annual meeting, a justification of financial need, and a budget (the double room rate in College Park, MD is about $100 plus tax). For those applicants currently working in libraries or archives, justification of financial need must include evidence that one has sought financial support from one's employing institution to attend the meeting and that such request was either denied or insufficiently met;

2. A current résumé or vita;

3. Two letters of support. Where applicable, one of the letters should be from a current supervisor.

Hotel accommodations will be funded at the double-occupancy rate, i.e. one-half of the $100 plus tax mentioned above.

Mail application and supporting materials to arrive by October 1, 2002 to:

Donna Fournier
Chair, ATMLA
Magill Library
Haverford College
371 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041

If you have questions regarding the grant or the application process, please contact Donna via e-mail at dfournie@haverford.edu, or by phone at 610-896-1174.

Recipients will be notified by October 15, 2002, and announced on ATMLA-L, the chapter's electronic discussion list immediately thereafter. Recipients who are not already members of ATMLA are expected to join before receiving their award. Annual student membership in ATMLA is currently only $7.00; a regular membership is $12.00.

Please note that ATMLA may elect to pay directly for travel and hotel expenses on the recipient's behalf and only supply the balance (if any) of an award following the meeting. If mileage for a personal vehicle is awarded, it will be paid at the current IRS rate of $0.345 per mile, also after the meeting.

ATMLA is grateful for the support of this year's endeavor by MLA. It is our hope that this support of chapter members who are beginning their careers or whose abilities to travel to meetings are compromised by lack of institutional funding or other circumstances will assist MLA in meeting the ongoing recruitment and continuing education objectives outlined in MLA's Plan 2001.