SLA Europe
Early Career Conference Awards 2009

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS EXTENDED TO
28 FEBRUARY 2009

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (2 February 2009)

SLA Europe invites current library and information science (LIS) students
and professionals who have been working in the field less than five years,
to apply for an all-expenses paid trip to the SLA Centennial Conference,
14-17 June 2009 in Washington, DC.

SLA Europe is offering four Awards jointly with three Divisions of SLA -
Business & Finance, Leadership & Management and Insurance & Employee
Benefits.  The Awards will cover all expenses including Conference
registration, hotel accommodation, economy return airfare to Washington, DC,
and meals.
Applicants for the Awards can either be working in the library and
information science field, with less than five years experience, or be
currently enrolled in a Library and Information Science (LIS) programme in
Europe.  (Previously the Awards were only open to students).  Applicants
should also be interested in developing a career in special librarianship.
Announcing the Awards, Barbara Robinson, Chair of the Early Career Committee
said "These Awards are an important part of our outreach programme to
encourage students and professionals at the early stages of their career in
special librarianship.  As part of a wider effort undertaken by other
divisions and non-American chapters of SLA, they constitute a major part of
the SLA mission to promote professional development and networking
opportunities for information professionals world-wide".  Sandy Peterson,
one of the 2008 Award winners, summed up her experience: "Attending the
Conference has had an enormous impact on my career. It has opened new
horizons and introduced me to people working in many diverse fields, who are
very knowledgeable and willing to help."

For full details on eligibility rules and the application procedure, please
visit our website, www.sla-europe.org.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 28 February, 2009.  Award
winners will be notified in March 2009.

About SLA
The Special Libraries Association is a non-profit global organisation for
innovative information professionals and their strategic partners.
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, the SLA represents over 12000
information professionals in 83 countries, including corporate, academic and
government information specialists.  http://www.sla.org

About SLA Europe
SLA Europe provides information professionals in Europe with unique
networking and learning opportunities through its newsletter, regular
seminars and social events. The group recognises outstanding achievement in
the information profession with its annual SLA Europe Information
Professional Award (SLA Europe IP).  SLA Europe also engages with young
information professionals through its Early Career Conference Awards (ECCA)
and the SLA Europe Dissertation Prize programme.   http://www.sla-europe.org