Intention
Access Diversity Scholarships are intended to give people from traditionally underrepresented and/or marginalized groups in technology communities the chance to participate in and develop professionally at the Access Library Technology Conference.
Funding
Funding for two scholarships of up to $1000 CDN each are written into the budget of Access Library Conference on an annual basis. Scholarships offset the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation. Further fundraising efforts may be undertaken at the discretion of the conference organizers.
Thanks to a generous, anonymous donation, two additional $1000 scholarships will be available in 2016, for a total of four scholarships.
Committee
The Access Diversity Scholarship Committee is formed on a volunteer basis by a minimum of two members of the Access Organizing Committee. All members of the Organizing Committee are welcome to join and there is no limit on the number of members the Diversity Scholarship Committee can have.
Criteria
1. “Traditionally underrepresented and/or marginalized groups” are defined as including, but definitely not limited to, those based on gender, race, sexuality, or physical ability. This extensive list, pulled together by Ashe Dryden, provides many examples of what might constitute an underrepresented and/or marginalized group.
2. Applicants must also be unable to attend the conference without some financial assistance (students, unemployed, underemployed, or working at a company/institution that does not support professional development).
3. Applicants must not have received a scholarship to attend either of the previous two conferences.
Applicants are asked to self-identify. The Diversity Scholarship Committee does not require proof of the first two criteria. With regards to the third criteria, where records exist, the applicant’s name will be checked against the recipients from the previous two years.
Application Process
Applicants are asked to send a 300-500 word statement to the Committee detailing how they meet the criteria, their background and interest in library technology, and how they think Access will advance their personal and professional development. Applicants are asked to attach an updated resume. For full details on how to apply, see this year’s Call for Applications.
Decision Process
All applicants who meet the listed criteria are entered into a draw for a scholarship. The draw will be random and will be conducted during a full Access Organizing Committee meeting to ensure maximum transparency.
Disbursement
In order to minimize the barriers for our scholarship recipients, the Diversity Scholarship Committee will work with each individual recipient to figure out the most appropriate way to disburse the scholarship funds. It is recommended that, at the very least, receipts are required as proof of expenditure.