Sponsored places at the DREaM conference: an update

Over the past few weeks we have announced a number of schemes to support those who would like to attend the DREaM conference at the British Library on Monday 9th July. Applications for the international travel bursary closed yesterday on May 30th, and we’d like to thank all who made submissions. These are now being assessed and the name of the award winner will be announced soon. Three schemes remain open to which all eligible individuals are invited to apply.

• We are offering 10 travel bursaries of up to £90 to help new professionals and full-time PhD students located outside London with their travel costs. These are being awarded on a first come first served basis. If you joined the profession in 2008 or since then, or are a full-time PhD student, please tick the box on the registration form to indicate your interest in a bursary place – but hurry, there are just a couple of bursary places left!
• Two CILIP groups are offering sponsored places at the DREaM conference for their members: (1) CILIP North West branch is sponsoring a conference place and travel, apply on the the application form by Monday 11th June 2012 5pm Thursday 14th June (new extended deadline); (2) the Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) is sponsoring two conference places, apply by sending an e-mail to LIRG.Awards@gmail.com with details of your name, contact e-mail address, employer details and a 50-word statement of how attendance at the DREaM conference will impact your professional practice by Monday 11th June 2012 5pm Thursday 14th June (new extended deadline).

If you are considering means of funding your place at the conference other than asking your employer to meet the £95 registration fee or paying yourself, don’t forget that a number of professional groups also offer awards to support professional development opportunities throughout the year as identified by individual members. For example, the UKeIG Student Conference Grant scheme offers three grants a year to enable students attend UK-based conferences relevant to their professional studies, and the CILIP North West branch makes four grants a year to individuals to support their CPD. It is worthwhile checking with the web pages of the professional groups to which you belong to see which offer similar schemes to give their members opportunities to develop their careers. For general current awareness about professional awards you can also subscribe to the JISCMail list LIS-AWARDS.