Getting yourself to NLS6 – some ideas for funding

So you’ve made the call to attend NLS6, and now you’re looking for creative ways to find funding to help out with costs. To help you on your way, I’ve asked previous NLS attendees for their ideas about how to make your NLS6 happen if funds are the only things standing in your way. Hana W is based in Wellington (New Zealand). Kim T is based in Melbourne (Australia). Both attended NLS5 in Perth (2011).

Hana : I attended one day of NLS5 after I attended & presented at ALIA Libtec in 2011. I used funding awarded from my regional LIANZA committee, Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui, and to get to Perth I received funding from my employer.

Kim : I was already attending ALIA National Library & Information Technicians Conference and was fortunate that my workplace allowed me to stay for both. It is worth considering sharing accommodation with someone you know who is attending if possible.

Hana : If you are funding yourself, I’d suggest staying at a backpackers close to the conference venue (I stayed at a local backpackers down the road from NLS5 venue).

For the Australian-based folks, here’s some ideas for keeping your costs low :

• Keep in touch with other new grads in the ALIA New Graduates Group, to find out who else is going to NLS6 from your region to share travel and/or accommodation with.
• Find out if you are eligible for one of the ALIA Awards.
• If you are currently working, then approach your employer about partially paying for some of your costs. Be creative with your pitch, and maybe they could cover your accommodation, or your flights, or your registration costs.

For the New Zealand-based folks, here’s some suggestions about sourcing funding from Hana :

• Apply to your employer. Yes, it means crafting a well written and convincing application, but it is worth it.
• Apply to your local LIANZA regional committee for the Hydestor award.
• Check with your local LIANZA committee if they have any discretionary funding for professional development opportunities.
• Apply for the Ada Fache fund if applicable.

You might also find that there are funding sources outside of your library sphere. Do you belong to other groups that have funding grants?  Are you a student of an institution that offers travel grants? Does anyone in your family belong to Lions or Rotary groups? Are you an member of another professional body that offers professional development grants? Now is the time to cast your net wide so that you can join us at NLS6.

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Hana W is based in Wellington, New Zealand. She is a self confessed library geek, as proven by her blog, Library.Geek. She’s @thewhaanga. She’s the former editor of LIANZA’s Library Life.

 

 

 

Kim T is a crafter, maker and runner based in Melbourne, Australia. She is the Manager, Hawthorn Campus Library at Swinburne University. She’s @haikugirlOz and an Aurora alumni.