EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award
EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award supports library organizations’ staff learning programs to strengthen on-the-job capabilities and advance organizational goals.
This grant was recently updated
The next deadline changed from March 1, 2026, to February 1, 2027, and the online application moved to https://www.ala.org/form/wf-tools-188. The award citation is now described as framed rather than 24k gold-framed.
Funder: American Library Association
Due Dates: February 1, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $3,500 and a framed citation (annual award)
Summary: Supports library-developed staff learning programs that build on-the-job capabilities and advance organizational goals.
Key Information: The award is for a library organization’s staff development program, not individual professional development.
Description
Administered by the American Library Association (ALA) and sponsored by EBSCO, this annual award recognizes a library organization whose staff development proposal demonstrates the greatest merit. Established in 1980, it supports learning activities developed by the library organization to strengthen on-the-job staff capabilities and improve personnel’s contribution to the library’s overall effectiveness.
The program connects staff learning with organizational goals and an identified need. Proposals must define realistic, attainable, measurable objectives, expected participant outcomes, and an approach to evaluating project impact. Past recognized work includes leadership development for library supervisors, self-paced online professional learning, team-building activities, hands-on learning with digital devices, and professional learning and advocacy for school library professionals.
