Need funds to travel to that library with a cool collection of research material? Or a little help affording a translation critical to your article? Maybe you’re a new MLA member whose job requires you to publish? The Music Library Association Awards Committee is ready and waiting to help! Applications are now open for the 2025 Carol June Bradley Award for Historical Research in Music Librarianship and Walter Gerboth Research Award. Learn more below and consider applying!
Bradley Award
This award was created by the Music Library Association in 2003 through the generous financial support of its namesake. Since Dr. Bradley’s death in 2009, MLA has continued to fund the award in her honor. The award exists to support research into the history of music libraries and music librarianship. There are no restrictions as to an applicant’s age, nationality, profession, or institutional affiliation. All proposals are reviewed entirely on the basis of merit. The Carol June Bradley Award is intended to support research-in-progress in music or music librarianship.
An award of up to $500 is available for 2025. Applications are being accepted until September 15, 2024 for the 2025 Bradley Award. Eligible expenses include costs to conduct research at locations which house research materials, fees for services related to conducting research such as data analysis, and supplies or services needed for the research project, such as a short-term subscription to software. Applications asking for funds for conference attendance or for reimbursement of past research expenses or permanent purchases will not be accepted.
Applications should include a project summary, a detailed budget, letters of recommendation, a curriculum vita, and two references. View complete requirements and submit your application via the Carol June Bradley Research Award Application page on the MLA website.
Recipients will be notified in advance of the registration deadline for the MLA 2025 meeting. If you have any questions about the award or applicant eligibility, please ask any member of the committee.
Gerboth Award
The Walter Gerboth Research Award was founded in 1984 by the Music Library Association to honor Past-President Walter Gerboth, librarian, teacher, mentor, leader in the Music Library Association, and pathmaker in music librarianship. The Walter Gerboth Award enables MLA to recognize promising work by its newer members (a group to which Walter Gerboth gave special encouragement) and new researchers, to support scholarship in music, music bibliography and librarianship, and to honor the memory of one of MLA’s most distinguished and loved members. Preference will be given to newer MLA members (within your first decade), as well as to MLA members regardless of length of service who are new to research.
An award of up to $2,000 is available for 2025. Applications are being accepted until September 15, 2024 for the 2025 Gerboth Award. Eligible expenses include costs to conduct research at locations which house research materials, fees for services related to conducting research such as data analysis, and supplies or services needed for the research project, such as a short-term subscription to software. Applications asking for funds for conference attendance or for reimbursement of past research expenses or permanent purchases will not be accepted.
Applications should include a project summary, a detailed budget, letters of recommendation, a curriculum vita, and two references. View complete requirements and submit your application via the Walter Gerboth Research Award Application page on the MLA website.
Recipients will be notified in advance of the registration deadline for the MLA 2025 meeting. If you have any questions about the award or applicant eligibility, please ask any member of the committee.
On behalf of MLA’s Gerboth and Bradley Awards Committee,
Janice Bunker, Chair (janice_bunker@byu.edu)
Laura Jacyna (jacynal@brandonu.ca)
Kimmy Szeto (kimmy.szeto@baruch.cuny.edu)
Featured Image by Scott Graham on Unsplash