Colin Mills Scholarship Guidelines
Public Libraries NSW, in association with the NSW Metropolitan Public Libraries Association (NSW MPLA) and the State Library of NSW, provides funds for the biennial Colin Mills Scholarship.
The Colin Mills Scholarship provides the opportunity for library staff to fulfill a professional development need which is outside of their library's normal staff development training resources. The successful applicant would gain skills and knowledge to benefit both the applicant and the management of their library service.
Conditions
The Scholarship provides funding up to $8,000 maximum, which also includes travel and registration to the biennial Public Libraries NSW Conference to present a report to the biennial Conference.
The Colin Mills Scholarship is available to all public library staff whose Council or Library is a member of Public Libraries NSW or NSW Metropolitan Public Libraries Association. Applicants are required to have a minimum of 2 years experience in the library and information sector.
The Scholarship is not intended to be used to fund formal academic research projects or course fees.
The Scholarship is intended to augment, not replace, existing Council’s/library training budgets.
Joint Applications will be considered.
Collaborative applications for professional development programs will be accepted from Zones /Regions of both Public Libraries NSW and NSW Metropolitan Public Libraries Association.
Following initial assessment, applicants will be short-listed. Applicants may be interviewed for further information and assessment.
The successful applicant/s will be announced at the PLNSW Annual General Meeting.
Examples of professional development:
- Short study tour to examine a specific area of library service
- Any travel to an overseas conference must include visits to relevant sites in the vicinity of the conference as part of the program structure
- Staff exchange
- Management courses or other relevant to libraries
Reporting
The successful applicant/s must provide a report, including financial statements, at the completion of the program, with additional comments by their Library Manager or Director as appropriate.
A written report is to be provided to the Colin Mills Scholarship Committee for distribution to the funding bodies.
A presentation is to be made to the biennial PLNSW Conference and also to an appropriate forum of NSW MPLA and also as appropriate to PLNSW and NSW MPLA Region meetings. This timing may be reviewed dependant on the program to be undertaken.
The report on the program is to include:
- Executive summary
- Aims and purpose of the program
- Methodology of the program
- Institutions visited and personnel interviewed
- Findings/outcomes of the program
- Benefits to the individual, their library service and broader professional base
- A separate report (maximum 1 page) from the relevant Library Manager/General Manager/Director
This report should also be adaptable for publication in suitable professional journals and for downloading on to the PLNSW and NSW MPLA websites.
Application form details:
- a brief description of the proposed program, including aims, benefits to the individual and to the employing institution, and possible outcomes of the program
- identification of and reasons for the choice of particular institutions, persons or activities
- project timeline
- itinerary, timetable
- budget including travel/accommodation costs involved
- a curriculum vitae
- two work-related referees reports
Applicants should complete the Application Form, available from the PLNSW and NSW MPLA websites
Applications should be forwarded to the Public Libraries NSW Secretary/Treasurer
Keryl Collard, Secretary / Treasurer
Public Libraries New South Wales
480 High Street, Maitland, NSW 2320
Applications close Friday 26 August 2011
Current Recipient
Danielle Old
Taree Library Service
Past Winners
Jenny Campbell, 2009
Narrabri Library Service
Carina Clement, 2007
Albury Library Service
Janice Biggins, 2005
Bega Valley Library Service
Caren Hudson, 2003
Wagga Wagga Library Service
Eileen English, 2000
Temora Library Service
John Bayliss, 1999
Lithgow Library Service
Details
View/ Download
Scholarship flyer
Application
View/Download
Colin Mills Application form
Sponsorship
Public Libraries NSW also acknowledges the sponsorship of The State Library of NSW and the Metropolitan Public Libraries Association
