Prairielands supports career development by offering continuing education scholarships to staff in member libraries. Scholarships are offered on both a quarterly ($400) and annual ($1000) basis for any appropriate training, workshop, or seminar, including annual events such as MLA, ITEM, Children’s Literature conference, etc. Staff of member libraries may apply for one annual scholarship per year in addition to one quarterly scholarship per fiscal quarter. The fiscal year quarters are:
- Quarter 1, July – September
- Quarter 2, October – December
- Quarter 3, January – March
- Quarter 4, April – June
All scholarships reimburse expenses related to the continuing education program. An eligible expense might include a registration fee, lodging, mileage, etc. Paid receipts will be required. Check with Prairielands for expenses that differ from these examples.
Recipients are required to share their experience with other Prairielands members by submitting a report through an online form.
Reimbursement forms for all scholarships are attached to approval letters.
Quarterly Scholarships: $400
- Scholarship Guidelines
- Scholarship Application
- Scholarship Report
Annual Scholarships: $1000
- Scholarship Guidelines
- Scholarship Application
- Scholarship Report
Continuing Education Opportunities
Prairielands encourages staff in member libraries to investigate trends and changes in library programs and job descriptions through continuing education. Organizations listed below provide continuing education opportunities in the form of conferences, webinars and self-paced learning. While many charge for their services, some are free. This list is not and will not attempt to be exhaustive. It is also not intended to imply Prairielands scholarships will only be granted for these opportunities.
Prairielands Library Basics
Register to view these tutorials
- Information Literacy
- Reference Interview
- Finding an Article from a Citation
- Legal and Medical Assistance, not Advice
- Problem Patrons
- Dealing with Stress, Pressure and Burnout
Minnesota
- Level Up! Minnesota
- Minitex Training and Events
- Continuing Education Calendar
- Linking Our Libraries classes – CMLE (Central Minnesota Library Exchange)
- Linking Our Libraries podcasts – CMLE
Scholarship Reports
HR Crash Course for Library Directors by Carrie Dose/Jackson Co. Library System
I am thankful for the opportunity to have attended the [...]
2022 ALA E-Learning by Georgia McCroy/ Appleton Public Library
Managing Children's Collections from Acquisitions to Weeding I found this [...]
MLA 2022 by Margaret Weigelt / Atwater Public Library
MLA 2022 DECC Duluth MN - It was great! I [...]
American Sign Language for Library Staff Level 1 by Rachel Clark / Litchfield Public Library
With this class, not only am I gaining basic communication [...]
Spanish Institute Beginning 1 course by Courtney Walsh / Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (KMS) Public Schools
This Beginning 1 Spanish course through the Spanish Institute of [...]
American Sign Language for Library Staff: Level 1 by Elisabeth Schmieg /Dassel Public Library
I am currently taking American Sign Language for Library Staff [...]