Do you dream of doing research in a historical collection? Have you ever wanted to do a deep dive into a topic in children's literature? If this sounds appealing to you, consider applying for the Bechtel Fellowship! The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship provides a grant up to $7,500 to a qualified children's librarian to spend up to four weeks reading and studying at the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature of the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville. The Baldwin Library contains a special collection of 130,000 volumes of children's literature published mostly before 1950. The fellowship is endowed in memory of Louise Seaman Bechtel and Ruth M. Baldwin. The guidelines for the grant and link to apply are found here: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/bechtel<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Falsc%2Fawardsgrants%2Fprofawards%2Fbechtel&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091135038%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=2ri%2BNgClXpVHQADbaQ5b2L1ov6iCptvuzwj3qmW62TA%3D&reserved=0>. Remember, applicants must be members of ALSC<https://www.ala.org/alsc/>. Applications and supporting materials are due by October 15, 2021. Here is what previous Fellows have had to say about their experiences: "It was delightful to have a study carrel and devote time to handling, reading and taking notes on this diverse collection of picture books. It was an energizing break from the fast-paced world of the Children's Place at my library. And the staff could not have been more accommodating." - Kathy East, 1998 Bechtel Fellow<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alsc.ala.org%2Fblog%2F2016%2F10%2Fenergizing-break-apply-bechtel-fellowship%2F&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091144996%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=5cFBgHc0XMdSHVbP74UJPdBbQ6BY9WREFVDMccfmIQM%3D&reserved=0> "Becoming a Bechtel Fellow changed my professional life. My topic was titled 'Searching for She-roes: A Study of Historic Children's Biographies of Women' . . . I've published an article on my topic in Children and Libraries, and used the experience to bolster co-writing and publishing a book through Libraries Unlimited. . . No matter what subject you'd like to pursue, they will have the collection to match it. It will be an experience you will always treasure." - Christina Dorr, 2010 Fellow<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alsc.ala.org%2Fblog%2F2016%2F10%2Fbecoming-bechtel-fellow-changed-professional-life%2F&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091144996%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=aMov2Z1JlEUCGUVB%2BX5QBNYv2Ks9dIVriqNoX0uUlU8%3D&reserved=0> "In short, the Bechtel fellowship was a complete professional game changer! I went to the Baldwin collection looking to explore the evolution of board books and ended up entering the world of historic children's literature research." - Allison Kaplan, 2011 Bechtel Fellow<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alsc.ala.org%2Fblog%2F2016%2F10%2Fcomplete-professional-game-changer-apply-bechtel-fellowship%2F&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091144996%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=IEaGzL2WzNa7lueYszCmN%2F%2Bh2oQaMUT%2FeuXdfsVgIrM%3D&reserved=0> For a peek at past winning Bechtel Fellowship topics, click here: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/bechtel/bechtelpastwinners<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Falsc%2Fawardsgrants%2Fprofawards%2Fbechtel%2Fbechtelpastwinners&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091154949%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=b23Tj45LY%2F6jFBBD%2FJRPt3CasbNvy60npxBGKBC2vHs%3D&reserved=0> For more information about the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature's Collection, visit https://baldwin.uflib.ufl.edu<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbaldwin.uflib.ufl.edu%2F&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7C21954d5044ed4a5945cc08d96c1b5f99%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637659687091154949%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=2FRfQH7WsZpfmYTdpIzLqwRrY0o%2B4FG95rAZFXx3ysw%3D&reserved=0> or contact lib-baldwin@uflib.ufl.edu<mailto:lib-baldwin@uflib.ufl.edu> For other questions about the Fellowship and application process, feel free to reach out to the co-chairs at frydr@freelibrary.org<mailto:frydr@freelibrary.org> or berashe@gmail.com<mailto:berashe@gmail.com> We are looking forward to reading your application! Rachel Fryd and Brooke Newberry Co-Chairs, ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarship Committee ------------------------------ Rachel Fryd Young Adult Book Selector Free Library of Philadelphia ------------------------------ Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmail2.mcls.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fmiyouth&data=02%7C01%7CNorrisS2%40michigan.gov%7Caf51448f1e92415533aa08d6f4b53328%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C636965456410852648&sdata=nModcBWFyzGoDGK%2FtwsSeAXV%2F85AQKEtzzQQj%2FV%2B5fM%3D&reserved=0> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.