SPARKS AWARD for PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Travel stipend to attend the
2014 SLA Annual Conference
Vancouver BC Canada
Application Deadline: March 14, 2014

The Chemistry Division of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) is sponsoring a student/new member travel award to defray the costs of attending the 2014 SLA Annual Conference June 8-10 in Vancouver, BC Canada. The award is intended to encourage the professional development of student or new members of the Chemistry Division and encourage their participation in Chemistry Division activities.

TRAVEL AWARD:
$1,500 stipend to attend the 2014 SLA Annual Conference. The winner also receives an award certificate at the Annual Conference during the Chemistry Division Business Meeting & Breakfast.

ELIGIBILITY:
All student members of the Chemistry Division and all new members of the Chemistry Division (individuals who have joined since January 2013) are eligible. All applicants must have joined the Chemistry Division by March 1, 2014. See below for information on joining SLA and the Chemistry Division.

Individuals who accept a travel award or stipend for the annual conference from any other SLA entity are not eligible for the Marion E. Sparks Award for Professional Development.  Travel funds provided by your employer, your school (for students), or any other non-SLA affiliated group do not affect your eligibility.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please submit the following:

•      A brief essay that: a) articulates your objectives for professional development; and b) indicates what you hope to gain from attending the SLA Annual Conference. Maximum length: 2 pages.
•      Resume
•      Names of two references
•      Brief budget (expected expenses for registration, airfare, lodging, food and/or continuing education course).

DEADLINE:
All applications must be received by midnight on March 14, 2014. The winner will be notified by March 28, 2014. Essays will be judged and the winner selected by a panel of SLA Chemistry Division members.

SUBMIT APPLICATION VIA EMAIL TO:

Claire Stokes ( cstokes@mmm.com )
3M Company
Information Research & Solutions
Building 201-2C-12
Saint Paul, MN 55144-1000

Want to join the Chemistry Division of SLA?
Not a member of SLA? Use this link to join SLA:  http://www.sla.org/access-membership/join-sla/
When you join SLA, you can also join one division for free, additional divisions are $20/year.

Already an SLA member? To join the Chemistry Division either: 1) Login using your membership Username and Password and download the SLA Change/Add Units form: http://www.sla.org/access-membership/  Fax or mail the form to SLA. Or 2) Call 1-703-647-4936 and pay with a credit card.

HISTORY:
The award is named to honor Marion E. Sparks, a chemistry librarian at the University of Illinois from 1913 until her death in 1929. Ms. Sparks contributed a great deal to the field of chemical information, her achievements include teaching courses on chemical information, and authoring and publishing what is argued to be the first book to formally address chemical literature and library instruction.

The Chemistry Division Web Site http://chemistry.sla.org/about/awards/sparks-award/
includes a listing of previous winners.