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
ARSL Annual Conference by Calla Jarvie / Rock County Community Library
I was able to attend the Association for Rural and [...]
ITEM Conference by Theresa Nysetvold / Murray County Central Schools
It was such a pleasure to attend an in-person conference! [...]
Crash Course for Library Directors by Shelly Finzen
The Library Director Crash Course program, provided by the ALA, [...]
What’s New in Children’s Literature 2022 by Janice Bot / St. Edwards School Library
I enjoyed this presentation and felt it was beneficial for [...]
Minnesota Library Association Conference 2021 by Paula Nemes / Marshall-Lyon County Library
Scheduling conflicts made it such that I couldn't attend any [...]
ALA eCourse “Genealogical Research for Librarians by Erin Conway / Marshall-Lyon County Library
Over the month of October, I attended the ALA eCourse [...]