Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship

Board Members of accredited Nebraska Public Libraries are invited to apply for an individual scholarship to reimburse attendance costs for the 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16, or the 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19!

The 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16 is going to be even bigger than usual. MPLA (Mountain Plains Library Association) joins NLA (Nebraska Library Association) this year, which means a regional-level conference will be right here in Nebraska! It will be 12 years before MPLA joins the NLA Conference again. Don’t miss this opportunity!

The 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19 is a great match for so many libraries in our state. This is a national conference focused on rural and small libraries, full of information designed to fit those rural and small libraries. As ARSL says, “no scaling down required” for what you will learn here.

This grant can reimburse successful applicants for up to $500 of conference registration and related expenses, as described below.

**Only current Board Members from an accredited Nebraska Public Library can apply**

**Multiple Board Members on the same board can apply for, and receive, this grant**

If Board Members have any questions about applying, please reach out to CE Coordinator.

Fern V. Heim recognized the challenges faced by trustees and boards for small public libraries. Here is more information about her history and the reason these grants are possible in her name.

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library board members with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance at the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.

The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library trustees. Funding for this grant does not come from state or federal funds. Funding is provided by private funds, through the Lincoln Community Foundation.

Successful applications will describe how attending this conference will support their library's mission. If you have questions about how to express that on the application, please reach out to CE Coordinator.

Eligible costs include:

• Conference Registration
• Travel
• Meals
• Lodging

Preconference fees are also included, but the grant does not include costs of networking or social events. Not sure what counts for reimbursement? Ask CE Coordinator.

The applicant must be a current board member of an accredited Nebraska public library at the time of application and for the duration of the conference.

Applications must be received via our online application form by 11:59 p.m. CST on September 16, 2026. Faxes and paper mail will not be accepted.

We must also recieve, by 11:59 p.m. CST September 16, 2026, via email, a completed acknowledgement and indication of support form from the Library Director of the accredited public library of which the applicant is a board member.

We will inform applicants whether they have received a grant on or before September 23, 2026.

**Notes**This is a reimbursement scholarship. The Nebraska Library Commission is not responsible for registering individuals for any conferences or making any travel arrangements. If you are awarded a scholarship: you will register for the conference and pay for the conference, arrange and pay for all travel and lodging, and attend the conference. After the conference is completed, then you will request reimbursement, with receipts.

After an application is approved:

If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive more detailed information, including the agreement with the Nebraska Library Commission which must be signed, and additional details for requesting payment/reimbursement.

Submit all grant application forms as directed on the forms, linked below. Any questions can go to:
CE Coordinator

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Application Forms (both required to apply):

1. Grant Application - for Trustees/Board Members Only
2. Acknowledgement and Indication of Support Form - for Library Director

Conference Websites:

1. NLA Conference Website
2. ARSL Conference Website

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