USA Scholarships
Rovelstad Scholarship 2027 - IFLA Travel Award
The Rovelstad Scholarship in International Librarianship was a CLIR award that sent one student from an accredited US library and information science program to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress each year. Mathilde and Howard Rovelstad endowed the fund, and CLIR used it to support early-career librarians interested in international standards, cooperative cataloging, and cross-border library partnerships. The scholarship covered conference registration, international economy airfare, ground transportation, meals, lodging, and a passport fee when applicable. CLIR awarded sixteen scholarships across fifteen LIS programs from 2003 through 2018, then announced that the endowment was fully expended and that it is no longer soliciting candidates. Verify status on clir.org before you prepare materials; the historical application deadline was 26 January with notification by early April.
What is the Rovelstad Scholarship?
The Rovelstad Scholarship in International Librarianship was CLIR's way of putting a US library-school student inside the IFLA World Library and Information Congress while the career was still young. Mathilde and Howard Rovelstad funded the endowment, and for sixteen cycles CLIR picked one student who cared about how libraries cooperate across borders.
When it ran, the award was practical travel money, not a degree subsidy. Registration, flights, hotels, meals, ground transport, even a passport fee if you needed one: CLIR paid the stack so the recipient could focus on sessions, committee meetings, and hallway conversations with librarians from dozens of countries. Winners often arrived with Peace Corps stories, language skills, or cataloging projects that already crossed national lines.
That pipeline stopped after 2018. CLIR now states plainly that the Rovelstad funds are gone and that it is not accepting applications. CareerOneStop and older blog posts still surface the name, which is why this guide stays live. You get the historical eligibility, documents, and January timeline in one place, plus a clear warning to verify clir.org before you chase a deadline that no longer exists.
If you are an MLIS student hunting IFLA travel support today, email [email protected] and ask whether any successor fund appeared. Meanwhile, check ALA division grants, your school''s global practicum office, and IFLA''s own fellowship listings for programs that are actually open in 2027.
Eligibility
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✓Enrolled in an accredited LIS programWhen the scholarship was active, applicants had to be enrolled in an ALA-accredited school of library and information science during the IFLA congress year. Graduates who had already finished the degree were ineligible.
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✓US citizen or permanent residentCLIR limited the award to US citizens and permanent residents. International students on visas could not apply even if they studied at a US library school.
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✓Interest in international library workApplicants needed a genuine interest in international cooperation, standards, or information policy. Past winners often had Peace Corps, Fulbright, or multilingual backgrounds tied to global library issues.
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✓Available to travel to the IFLA congressThe scholarship existed to get one student to the annual IFLA meeting, historically held in August at a host city outside the United States. Recipients had to commit to attending the full conference week.
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✓Program currently not accepting applicantsCLIR states on its Rovelstad page that funds are fully expended and that it is no longer soliciting candidates. Treat every historical rule as archival unless CLIR announces a reopening.
Benefits
- IFLA congress registration Covered
- International economy airfare Covered
- Ground transportation Covered
- Meals and lodging Covered during congress
- Passport fee Covered when applicable
- Tuition or living stipend Not part of award
- Multi-year funding Single congress trip only
Document checklist
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✓CLIR online application formWhen the program ran, CLIR required a completed web form through its grants portal. That form is offline for new cycles, but CLIR archives describe the fields it collected.
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✓Official transcriptsUndergraduate and graduate transcripts were required from accredited institutions. CLIR used them to confirm enrollment in library and information science.
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✓Two reference lettersReferees submitted letters through CLIR's system addressing the applicant's fit for international librarianship. Faculty mentors or supervisors who knew the applicant's global interests were typical choices.
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✓Statement of international interestsApplicants explained why IFLA mattered for their careers and how they would use the congress experience. Strong files named specific IFLA sections or standards bodies.
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✓Proof of passport or application plansBecause IFLA meets abroad, CLIR covered passport fees when needed. Winners had to obtain travel documents before booking flights CLIR reimbursed.
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✓Confirmation email to [email protected]CLIR directed questions about eligibility or technical issues to [email protected] while the program was live. Use that address to ask whether any successor fund exists.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Is the Rovelstad Scholarship still offered?
No. CLIR states that Rovelstad endowment funds are fully expended and that it is no longer soliciting candidates. The official Rovelstad page archives eligibility and deadlines from the final 2018 IFLA cycle but does not provide a live application.
What did the Rovelstad Scholarship pay for?
It covered IFLA congress registration, international economy airfare, ground transportation, meals, lodging, and passport fees when needed. It did not pay tuition or provide a general living stipend beyond the congress travel window.
Who was eligible for the Rovelstad Scholarship?
US citizens and permanent residents enrolled in an accredited library and information science program who wanted to pursue international library cooperation. Applicants needed interest in IFLA-level issues such as standards, multilingual access, or global policy.
When was the Rovelstad Scholarship deadline?
CLIR historically used a January deadline, with the last published date of 26 January 2018. Award recipients were notified by 5 April in that cycle. No 2027 deadline exists because the program is closed.
How many Rovelstad scholarships did CLIR award?
CLIR awarded sixteen scholarships between 2003 and 2018 to students enrolled in fifteen different accredited LIS programs. Each active year typically supported one student attending that year's IFLA congress.
What is IFLA in the Rovelstad context?
IFLA is the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Its annual World Library and Information Congress brings librarians together to discuss global information policy, standards, and service models. The Rovelstad Scholarship existed to give a US student early exposure to that forum.
Can I email CLIR about Rovelstad funding?
Yes. CLIR lists [email protected] for questions about the program. Use it to confirm whether any successor travel award replaced Rovelstad before you rely on third-party scholarship listings.
Are there similar awards if Rovelstad is closed?
ALA, IFLA itself, and some library schools offer travel grants or conference scholarships with different rules. None replicate Rovelstad exactly, so search current CLIR grants and your school's international practicum funds instead of expecting the Rovelstad portal to reopen.
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