Conference Travel Grants Committee Annual Report 2022
submitted by Andrea I. Morris
Current Roster
- Andrea I. Morris, chair (2020-2023)
- Daniel Ray (2021-2024)
- Terry Lewis (2021-2025)
List of Previous Goals and Progress Made
- Reviewed and awarded the inaugural recipients of the new Paraprofessional/Public Librarian Travel Grant, to be used at the 2023 meeting.
- The Committee did not add a new member in 2022 and is a three-member committee in 2022.
- A fourth member could be easily added and need for a larger committee will be assessed based on the workload this year.
- The Kevin Freeman Travel Grant page and the Paraprofessional/Public Librarian Travel Grant pages were revised to increase awareness about the grants.
- This goal also included creating a handbook for the Committee’s space on the MLA website, which is in progress.
List of Future Goals
- The Committee will include at least one committee member from an underrepresented group in the music librarianship field, and recruit accordingly moving forward (women, persons of color, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, and veteran status).
- Objective 3.4: Reflect DEIA principles in MLA’s leadership, membership, core values, mission, strategies and operations. Devote resources to clarifying and strengthening the “E” and “I” in DEIA.
- The Committee will continue to award at least one of the Kevin Freeman Travel Grants to an individual from an underrepresented minority group.
- Objective 3.7: Offer targeted conference programming, pathways to involvement, and enhanced outreach efforts to members of underrepresented groups including people of color, public library employees, and support staff. Draw on MLA chapter expertise to encourage involvement in national participation.
- Create an accessible handbook for the Committee’s page on the MLA website.
- Objective 4.3: Develop and/or formalize on-boarding for new members, new committee members, and committee chairs. Incorporate current DEIA efforts into this training.