Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference Professional Development Award

nto@utah.edu

The Network of the National Library of Medicine is offering funding to support rural and small library staff in enhancing their ability to serve their communities with trustworthy health information. This opportunity is designed to build capacity in delivering health information, increase community access to reliable resources, and foster library staff as local health information leaders.

Funding will cover registration and travel expenses to attend the 2026 Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference in Montgomery, Alabama from September 16-19, 2026. Participants will attend a pre-conference training focused on consumer health information, called Healthy Roots, Strong Communities: Health Information Resources and Programming.

Pre-conference training objectives:

• Navigate and demonstrate MedlinePlus and related National Library of Medicine resources
• Practice responding confidently to health information requests
• Outline a simple plan for health programming or outreach
• Identify potential community partners to support health initiatives
• Earn Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) continuing education credits

Eligibility is open to library staff across the United States. Preference is given to those in rural and small libraries and those who have not received the award in the past.

Applicants must be affiliated with an NNLM member organization. There is no cost for membership for qualifying organizations.

Expenses will be covered up to $1,500 for selected participants. Up to 20 awards will be made.

Recipients from NNLM Region 1 (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) will follow procedures from University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Recipients from all other areas will follow the University of Utah Schedule of Allowable rates.

A link to the online application is available on the program website.