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SCELC Research Incentive Awards

The purpose of the SCELC Research Incentive Award is to provide funding to support conducting research, publishing research, and presenting research in librarianship. The SCELC Research Incentive Award may be used for a variety of activities associated with conducting and disseminating research.

Qualifying Research Activities

The PPDC will award up to $5000 to supplement any funding that is available from Member institutions for research activities. For two examples of successful SCELC Research Incentive Award projects, check out the recording for SCELC Channel One: Research Incentive Awards Showcase (2023-09-08).

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather to suggest possible uses of funding. Research activities might include:

  • Travel to develop a research proposal involving co-investigators at another location
  • Travel to gather data at another location, for example, to conduct interviews
  • Paying an on campus research support unit for assistance in planning a research project, developing survey instruments, or analyzing data
  • Travel to present the results of research at a conference that one does not regularly attend
  • Software to help you conduct research or analyze data

Note: Equipment is excluded from funding.

Awards will be disbursed as reimbursements. Please see the Award Requirements section for more information on SCELC's reimbursement policy for the Research Incentive Award.

Applications will reviewed using a rubric designed by the PPDC. The rubric is available for reference here.

Application Requirements

Applicant(s) must be currently employed as professional or support staff at a SCELC Member institution. If applying as a group, at least one group member must be currently employed at a SCELC Member institution.

Research activities need to be completed while applicant is currently employed at a SCELC Member institution. If awarded as a group, at least one group member must be currently employed at a SCELC Member institution while research activities are conducted.

For research projects that have not been conducted or are partially conducted, the application should include:

  • A brief one-paragraph summary of the proposed study
  • A description of the character and scope of the project, including, as relevant:
    • Methodology or plan of work
    • Expected contribution to knowledge or your library’s operations
    • Timeline
    • Related research you have conducted; future related studies you may conduct
  • Other sources of funding you have received or for which you have applied
  • Total amount requested from SCELC, with accompanying itemized budget details

For a research project that has been completed and for which the applicant needs funding to travel to a conference to present the result, the application should include the above, plus:

  • Conference name and location
  • Documentation of acceptance for presentation (e.g. an acceptance letter or email message)

Applications will be evaluated for:

  • Clarity and thoroughness
  • Contribution to profession or library operations
  • Necessary expertise and background to complete the project as described
  • Clear budget, and identified outside funding sources if applicable
  • Plans to share the results of the funded research, as well as documentation that the project has been accepted for presentation at a conference if applicable

Application Form and Timeline

  • Applications are accepted annually, opening in the second Monday of February until the last Friday of the following April
  • Applicants will be notified of award decisions by the first day of the month following the application deadline, unless otherwise stated by PPDC members or SCELC Staff.
  • Award decisions are at the discretion of SCELC's available budget

    • If you have any questions about the application process or your submitted application, please contact Eric Chao, PPDC liaison, at eric@scelc.org.

    Apply here for SCELC Research Incentive Award

    Award Requirements

    All proposed projects should be completed within a year of approval.

    To fulfill the award conditions for the Research Incentive Award, you will need to submit:

    • Reimbursement request with copies of receipts for research expenses
    • Brief report (i.e. one page or less) summarizing the results of your project

    Any presentations or publications resulting from SCELC Research Incentive funding must include a statement to that effect: This research was partially funded by an award from the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC).

    Reimbursement

    Receipts are required for reimbursement.

    Funding may be used to reimburse expenses that have been incurred within the past fiscal year (July - June).

    Awards will be reimbursed based upon actual expenses, not estimated costs included in the application budget.

    Reminder: Equipment is excluded from funding.

    To submit a reimbursement request, please download and complete the Research Incentive Award Reimbursement Form. Email the completed form with accompanying receipts to officemanager@scelc.org. Reimbursements cannot be processed without receipts.

    Report Guidelines

    Within one month of requesting reimbursement, award recipients must submit a one-page report summarizing research activities, conclusions, and future direction (if applicable). Please submit reports to officemanager@scelc.org.