Shirley Olofson Memorial Award
The Shirley Olofson Memorial Award helps new librarians attend the ALA Annual Conference to support their professional development and engagement in the library community.
Funder: American Library Association (https://www.ala.org)
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 | January 2027
Funding Amounts: $1,000 award (one-time, annual); supports costs to attend ALA Annual Conference.
Summary: Supports and recognizes new librarians for professional development and engagement within the library community.
Key Information: Forecasted dates—confirm on the program page before applying.
Description
The Shirley Olofson Memorial Award, administered by the American Library Association's New Member Round Table (NMRT), is an annual award established in 1973 to honor the memory of Shirley Olofson. The award is designed to support promising new librarians by providing financial assistance for professional development, specifically to help defray the costs of attending the ALA Annual Conference. The award aims to encourage early-career librarians to participate actively in ALA activities and foster growth within the library profession.
