Funding
Up to $2,500 is reimbursed for allowable expenses associated with participation in meetings - $500 is reserved for registration and other associated costs, contingent on approval and direction from NNLM.
Description of Award
The mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public's health by providing U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data.
Who are we? NNLM Region 3 comprises diverse and talented professionals with backgrounds ranging from academic librarianship to public health. Together, we extend the services and programs of the NNLM and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) by partnering with health information agencies, health organizations, public health entities, community-based organizations, libraries, and the general public to offer outreach, funding opportunities, and educational programming throughout the region.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 3 is seeking library and information science (LIS) students who desire an opportunity to network, learn new skills, and present in a professional setting while learning more about health sciences librarianship and outreach!
Whether you’re interested in health sciences librarianship, informatics, or public librarianship, this program will give you a competitive edge in your job search and future career. You’ll get a chance to:
- Collaborate with NNLM Region 3 staff
- Deliver a meaningful presentation to information professionals
- Interface with library colleagues
- Engage in professional development to bolster your skills in this field
Award Components
Contingent on federal funds (see budget section), the following is a list of components included in this award:
- Registration to the SCC/MLA chapter meeting, October 24-29, 2025 in Little Rock, AR; registration fees covered in full by this award. NOTE: This portion of the award is for in-person attendance. You must be able to travel to Little Rock, AR during this time.
- Up to $2,500 reimbursed for allowable expenses associated with participation in meetings; $500 is reserved for registration and other associated costs, contingent on approval and direction from NNLM.
- Training on an NLM product or service.
- Presentation coaching and networking opportunities with NNLM staff.
- Contingent on approval and direction from NNLM, registration and associated costs to engage with additional presentation opportunities, if applicable.
- Opportunity to develop and deliver a presentation to health information professionals.
*Note: All activities must be completed by December 19, 2025.
Timeline
Dates subject to change.
The goal of this program is to introduce the future LIS workforce to the health sciences, trusted National Library of Medicine (NLM) resources, and develop their professional skills. Awardees will attend the Annual Meeting of the South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association (SCC/MLA), October 24-29, 2025 in Little Rock, AR. Additionally, with coaching from a talented NNLM professional, each awardee will deliver a 20-minute (approximate) virtual presentation on an NLM resource or NNLM priority in December 2025 as part of an online webinar series hosted by NNLM Region 3 (Health Bytes with Region 3). Awardees may have additional opportunities if applicable.
Successful applicants must:
- Complete training module(s) as assigned
- Meet virtually at least three times with their assigned coach to prepare for annual meetings
- Attend SCC/MLA Annual Meeting, October 24-29, 2025, in Little Rock, AR
- Actively engage with future colleagues at annual meetings
- Complete presentation training with NNLM Region 3 staff
- Deliver virtual presentation to information science colleagues
- Write a student development report and submit to NNLM Region 3 no more than 10 days after presentation
Up to two (2) applicants will be selected and notified by Sept 5, 2025.
Students will be featured on the NNLM Region 3 communication channels, including LinkedIn and the regional mailing list. This feature will include a short bio and a professional headshot.
Library students residing in and/or currently enrolled in a Library or Information Sciences program located in NNLM Region 3 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas) are eligible to apply. Candidates should demonstrate a passion or interest in exploring health information sciences.
Previous recipients of this award and recipients of the 2025 Mayo Drake Student Scholarship Award are not eligible to apply.
Application Instructions
All awards issued under the NLM Contract with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library are subject to the Government's availability of appropriated funds in compliance of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.232-18, Availability of Funds. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. These funds will be subject to regulations up to and including 2 CFR 200.
You are required to acknowledge the following statements before submitting an application:
- You will share the information gained with colleagues in your institution/RML/Office, as required by the Request for Proposal.
- Any web-based resources developed for this project will ensure accessibility to the greatest possible number of people.
- Additional documentation will need to be completed should your project be awarded. Please consult with your RML/Office for details.
You will need to submit your application online. Interested applicants should complete the application via Google Form (https://forms.gle/VNccRYHiT9TWbX4BA) in addition to an emailed copy of the applicant's resume or CV and a letter of recommendation from a current professor/instructor or academic advisor. Applicants should submit all documents per instructions on Google Form by Aug 29, 2025.
Additional Information
Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to Web applications, Web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, internet. The National Library of Medicine is a part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recipients of National Library of Medicine funding through the NNLM must meet all requirements under Section 508. Information on 508 Compliance.
Recipients of NNLM funding are required to deposit any peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance for publication in PubMed Central in accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy.
To facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and information associated with the NNLM Cooperative Agreement Award, all subawardees are required to share any data or training material resulting from funding. This information must be submitted to the following collection sites as applicable:
- Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) website;
- Other websites specifically designated by the NLM as part of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (considering changes in the project and data repositories required to maintain sharing within the Network).
In addition, recipients of funding are expected to use or adapt existing training materials before developing new materials. Consult with your RML/Office and the NNLM Training Office (NTO) prior to developing materials.
Per Section 8.2.1. - Right in Data (Publication and Copyrighting) of the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH must be given a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license for the Federal government to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any materials developed as a result of funding and to authorize others to do so for Federal purposes, i.e., the ongoing development of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Data developed by subawardees/consortium participants and consultants are also subject to this policy.
Any resources developed with project funds must include an acknowledgment of NIH grant support and a disclaimer: “Developed resources reported in this [publications, press releases, internet sites] are supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH) under cooperative agreement number UG4LM012345. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health."
Application Review and Scoring Criteria
Criteria for selection include: applicant’s interest in health sciences (3 points); applicant’s interest in attending this conference (3 points); how opportunity enhances their professional areas of interest (3 points); clear endorsement in recommendation letter (3 points); and overall writing quality (3 points).
Applications will be reviewed by Region 3 staff. Responses are ranked from “0” (No justification) to “3” (Compelling, specific justification). The applications will be given a score (0-15) based on the listed evaluation criteria in this RFA. Up to two (2) of the highest-scoring applications will be funded.