ALCTS Online Course Grant for
Library Professionals from Developing Countries

Purpose

One free seat per online continuing educational course session is available to librarians and information professionals from developing countries.

The goal of this pilot project is helping library professionals from developing countries stay current with the latest trends and developments in technical services areas and enhance their professional knowledge and skills in librarianship and information science.

Criteria

Applicants must:

• Have a degree in library or information science (e.g. a 4-year undergraduate degree or a master’s) or,
  • be enrolled in a library or information science program or,
  • be working as a librarian or information professional in a developing country
• Be a legal national from a qualifying developing country (see lists of Qualifying Countries: World Bank  |  United Nations)
• Have working knowledge of English
• Have technical abilities to participate in an online course:^*
  • computer skills: be comfortable with Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc.; a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, etc., be able to send emails with attachments; copy and paste text; download and save a file, install a program or plug-in; quickly learn a new program using online tutorial or Help section;
  • regular unlimited access to a computer (at least a Pentium II-based PC or a G3 PowerMac machine;
  • a reliable high-speed Internet connection (Broadband or DSL, or at least 56k modem);
  • antivirus software installed and kept up-to-date on a computer.
    
    *See Are you ready for online learning? for general information on online learning. Also look for technical requirements at course description as they may vary from course to course. Send e-mail to jreese@ala.org if you have any questions.

Project Promotion

The information about ALCTS online courses for librarians or information professionals from developing countries will be posted at the web sites of ALCTS Continuing Education Committee and International Relations Committee. The courses will be also advertised at the alaworld discussion list, and the IFLA web site.

A link to the Online Course Schedules, the Application Form and a list of Qualifying Countries will be provided to the ALA divisional international relations committees’ web sites and appropriate discussion lists.

Application Procedures

The dates of ALCTS online courses are released every January. The courses are advertised twice per year: in January and again in the summer.

Applicants must submit the interactive web form at: http://alctsprogram.wufoo.com/forms/alcts-web-course-offering-application-form/

The form must be completed in English. The due date for each course is two months in advance of that course’s start date (e.g., the due date for course starting at the 2nd of May is the 2nd of March.)

ALCTS International Relations Committee will review all applications according to eligibility and required criteria. E-mail acceptance will be sent to a successful applicant at least two weeks prior to the beginning of an online course. A rejection message will be sent via e-mail prior to the beginning of the course offering. The applicants are encouraged to resubmit applications for late offerings if their early applications were rejected due to limited seats.The number of courses that one individual can receive is no more than two free courses per year.