ALIA research awards terms and conditions

Introduction

The Australian Library and Information Association makes funds available to encourage research projects relevant to the library and wider profession and to provide an opportunity for professional members to investigate a project they would otherwise be unable to do because of the time and costs involved.

Eligibility

Study Grant Award

• Study grants are open to practising librarians or library technician members who have been personal members for at least two years with a minimum of three years' experience.

Library Technician Research Award (biennial)

• The scholarship is open to all financial Library Technician members of the Association.

Twila Ann Janssen Herr Research Award for Disability Services

• Applicants are required to be personal financial members of ALIA early in their career and practicing in the sector.

Terms and conditions

1. The ALIA research committee or Board of Directors reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions from time to time as it thinks fit, provided however that any such amendment shall not in any way affect any awards already made pursuant to these terms and conditions.
2. ALIA reserves the right to make broad adjustments to the proposed project to ensure optimal relevance for the Association and the wider profession.
3. The ALIA research committee reserves the right to require research ethics principles have been met.
1. No increase in expenditure from that stated in the final offer will be allowed: Study Grant Award up to $5000, Library Technician Research Award up to $5000, Twila Ann Janssen Herr Research Award for Disability Services up to $5000. Costings must allow for GST on goods or services.

The successful recipients(s) will be required to:

1. Prepare a comprehensive report which may be published in the Australian Library Journal, other ALIA publication or posted to ALIA e-prints. Any publications describing work that has been wholly or partially supported by an ALIA research award, including the Library Technician Research Award, will make due acknowledgment of such support.
2. Present the report to the ALIA research committee within twelve months of the date of completion of the award. If this deadline cannot be met, the recipient will advise the ALIA research committee within three months, of the reasons for the delay and the proposed submission date of the report.
   Library Technician Research Award recipients are required to prepare a comprehensive report on their studies, suitable for publication as a journal article and forward the report to the national executive of the library technician's group within four months of its completion.
3. Make a presentation at an ALIA conference or event and assume all costs associated with attending such an event.
   Library Technician Research Award recipients are required to present at the ALIA Biennial Library Technician's Conference. The presentation should include a report on the project, detailing the project's outcomes, benefits to the individual and to the practice of library technicians.

Application

Advice to applicants:

• Applications must be received by ALIA by the nominated closing date. Entries will not be accepted after the advertised closing date.

Checklist, what to include

• Timetable
• Budget
• An outline of proposed research project including aims, objectives and outcomes
• Evaluation
• Curriculum vitae
• References from two referees
• Other related information to assist in the evaluation of your application such as letters of support from employers or professional colleagues

In your application, you must provide all the information requested to be considered for the award.

Selection

ALIA research committee

The role of the committee is to foster research that underpins innovation and improvement in library and information practice by:

• administering and overseeing operation of the Association's Research Fund;
• recommending recipients of ALIA research awards to the Board of Directors;
• contributing to the development of Association policies or research; and
• encouraging publication of funded research activities within and beyond the Association.

1. The research committee may seek further information or independent referee reports from the candidate as necessary.
2. The research committee reserves the right not to make an award in any year where it judges applications to be of insufficient merit.
3. Notice in writing shall be forwarded to each candidate from whom an application has been received, as to whether the candidate has been successful or not, and, in the case of a successful candidate, giving details of the value and terms of the award and any conditions.
4. The successful nomination will be announced through inCite, ALIAnews and on ALIAnet award page.
5. The decision of the ALIA research committee will be final and no correspondence on their decision will be entered into.
6. The winner will assume all costs of attending any presentation ceremony.

Library Technician Research Award selection committee

The selection committee:

• Is comprised of the ALIA president; a member of the national executive of the library technician's group; a member appointed by the Board of Directors and an educator of library technician students (rotated from state to state).
• Encourages the publication of funded research activities showing the benefits to the individual and to the practice of library technicians.
• Recommends recipients of the Library Technician Research Award to the Board of Directors for endorsement.

Forfeiture of awards

The unexpended balance of any award may at the absolute discretion of the panel or committee be forfeited by the recipient in the following cases:

1. Death of the recipient.
2. In the event of the recipient not fulfilling any conditions that may be attached to the terms of the award.
3. In the event of the recipient for any reason whatever being prevented from continuing their research.
4. In the event that the recipient does not utilise the award within twelve months of its acceptance.

All applications will become the property of ALIA and will be kept confidential. Only the details of the successful applications will be made public.