The International Indigenous Library Forum Fund

The purpose of the International Indigenous Library Forum Fund (IILFF) is for Indigenous library professionals to support other Indigenous library professionals in attending premiere library events and training. The fund is a declining balance fund and will sunset when the funds have been fully utilized. Recipients of IILFF will receive a cash bursary up to a maximum of $5,000.00 CAD.

Applicants must be Indigenous Peoples working and living in Canada, who work as library professionals. The applicant must be an OLA member in good standing. Funds may be used for registration at IILF or OLA Super Conference, and/or may include hotels and travel associated with this registration.

Learn more about fund

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Organization

Telephone Number

OLA Member

Which event/program are you seeking funding for?

Which event are you applying for support?

Other

Travel Dates if applicable

Estimate of costs, including registration and any necessary travel

Please confirm that you identify as Indigenous, including First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or another Indigenous identity/community.

Why are you interested in attending the OLA Super Conference and/or IILF programming?

Suggested maximum: 250 words. You may address what you hope to learn, your areas of professional interest, how participation relates to your current or future work, and what makes this opportunity meaningful to you.

What professional learning or development do you hope to gain through this opportunity?

Suggested maximum: 250 words. You may discuss the knowledge, skills, relationships, practices, or perspectives you hope to develop.

How will you share what you learn with your library, institution, colleagues, community, or professional network after the event?

Suggested maximum: 250 words. Examples may include a staff presentation, written summary, community discussion, internal training, association presentation, webinar, mentoring, peer learning, or contribution to an Indigenous library network or community of practice.

Who do you expect will benefit from the knowledge or connections you bring back?

Suggested maximum: 150 words. Applicants may define impact broadly, including their institution, colleagues, learners, community, Indigenous communities, or the wider library sector.

How could your participation benefit your home library, institution, students, or community?

Suggested maximum: 250 words. You may identify a challenge, opportunity, program, service, project, or institutional priority that may benefit from your learning.

Is there a specific project, program, service, initiative, or area of practice where you expect to apply what you learn?

Suggested maximum: 200 words

How might your participation strengthen Indigenous librarianship, Indigenous library services, Indigenous knowledge sharing, or your connections with Indigenous colleagues and communities?

Suggested maximum: 250 words. Your response may address professional networks, community relationships, culturally responsive services, Indigenous knowledge, collections, programming, leadership, or another area you identify.

How could this opportunity contribute to your longer-term professional goals or leadership development?

Suggested maximum: 200 words. Leadership is intended broadly and does not require the applicant to be a manager or to aspire to management.

Would you be able to participate in the OLA Super Conference and/or IILF program without financial assistance from this Fund?

Are there financial, geographic, institutional, professional, accessibility, or other circumstances that you would like the Committee to consider?

Suggested maximum: 200 words. Optional. Please disclose only information you are comfortable sharing.

If selected, are you willing to provide a brief post-event Learning and Impact Report describing your key learning, professional development, knowledge sharing, and anticipated or actual institutional/community impact?

What format would you prefer to share your learning after the event?

If 'other' please let us know

Please provide a breakdown of your financial ask

Please confirm that you identify as Indigenous, including First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or another Indigenous identity/community.

A simple self-declaration should be sufficient unless the Fund has established different eligibility requirements.