Library Fellowships

Libraries across the world contain impressive collections of manuscripts, books, maps, and other records covering a wide range of subjects and time periods. A select number of these libraries offer fellowships, which are stipends that provide researchers with access to books and manuscripts from their general and special collections. The monetary value, the duration, and the types of library fellowships vary depending on the granting institution. Here is a list of a few types of library fellowships:

• Long-term fellowships (4-12 months)
• Short-term fellowships (1-2 months)
• Week-long fellowships (1-3 weeks)
• Digital fellowships
• Dissertation fellowships
• Non-stipendary fellowships

Eligibility requirements vary based upon the granting institution, but most offer library fellowships to both national and international scholars. In certain cases, a fellowship might be restricted to only citizens of the country in which the library is located. Most libraries will accept applications from established scholars and doctoral students.

During a library fellowship, one can expect access to library services like borrowing books and interlibrary loan. You will also have access to other affiliate libraries, which means you are able to work with both special and general collections. Libraries will also provide basic services to help you get settled, which includes things like information on housing, immigration papers, and tax forms. They will also point fellows to orientation events, which allows you to integrate into the academic life of the host institution.

Library fellowships are a great opportunity to both further your own research agenda and to make contacts with other scholars in an interdisciplinary environment. They offer you dedicated time for research and writing and the opportunity to experience the cultural and social life of new cities after the library is closed. But the greatest benefit is access to rare books and other manuscripts. Digital access is an important part of research in the twenty-first century, but handling physical texts is central to the humanities.

Every library will have slightly different requirements for the application process, but in general here is a list of the things you will need to submit:

• Application form
• Project proposal (page length varies)
• Curriculum vitae
• Letters of reference (normally 2)
• List of items in the collection related to your project
• List of secondary sources related to your project (not as common)

Before writing your proposal, you need to do some background research. Search the library catalogue and other published bibliographies from the library you are applying to. Getting a sense of what the collection holds will help you determine whether you should apply. Contact the librarians because they can point you to other guides and materials given their familiarity with the collection and with the research of past fellows. They can also confirm that your research topic matches the fellowships they offer.

Another helpful preparatory strategy is to look over the list of both past and current fellows, which are usually listed on the library website. Getting a sense of successful projects will help you think about your own. You may also want to email a former fellow in search of advice on how to write a strong proposal.

Proposals for library fellowships are like those for other grants and awards. You need to describe your project for a general audience, establish your principal argument(s), explain the relevance of your research, and outline how it complements or modifies the existing literature on your subject. You also need to sketch out your larger research agenda, outlining what you have accomplished and your general plans for completion.

The most crucial aspect of your proposal is the relationship between your project and the library’s collection. General reference to how extensive a collection is or that a given repository contains lots of “books” related to your subject will not result in an effective proposal. You need to stress the names of specific books and manuscripts and articulate why it is necessary to physically handle them. Remember that librarians are concerned with printed works as material objects. The experience of a book or manuscript is not just about understanding its content; it is about trying to capture how people experienced print culture in the past through paper, binding, woodcuts, engravings, and the dimensions of what they held (or were unable to hold) in their hands.

Depending on your research agenda, like most aspects of academic life you need to plan at least a year in advance. The application process will take several months, which includes preparing your proposal, obtaining letters from your referees, and waiting for the results. If you are the recipient of a fellowship, most libraries provide you with a year to use your fellowship. For example, for the Newberry Library I notified my referees in September (2015), submitted my application in November (2015), received notification in May (2016), and used my fellowship in June (2017).

A wide range of libraries offer fellowships, which include public, private, national, university, museum, and research centre libraries. A large portion of fellowships are offered by libraries in the United States, but one can also find them in other parts of the world. To search for library fellowships, browse the homepages of libraries that contain collections that match your research agenda. You can also take a look at the interactive map below to get you started.

This is a brief introduction, which means you may still have other questions about library fellowships. Here are a few ways in which you can find the help you are looking for with Western Libraries:

• Reach out to a librarian via  chat, phone, email, or online appointment .
• Book a research consultation using the  Research Support Request  form.
• Contact Jason Dyck, Teaching & Learning Librarian, at  jdyck3@uwo.ca .