Professional Development Award

Invest in your growth and take your career to the next level!

CORAL is excited to offer up to $750 in reimbursement to support librarians and paraprofessionals pursuing professional development opportunities. Whether you’re attending a conference, workshop, or training program, this award is here to help you expand your skills, network, and impact.

Eligibility

To qualify for the Professional Development Award:

Your employing institution must be a CORAL member in good standing.
You must work in a library.
You cannot be a current CORAL officer or library director.
Applicants who received funds within the last two years are ineligible.

Award Details

Eligible expenses include:

Tuition and registration fees
Lodging at a conference hotel
Meals, local mileage, airfare, parking, and ground transportation

Activities must occur within the award year. Extensions may be requested for extenuating circumstances, and reimbursements will follow state rates. Refer to the state reimbursement schedule for guidance.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and discussed by the CORAL Board. When evaluating submissions, the Board will consider the nature of the professional development opportunity, why it is meaningful to the applicant, and how clearly they describe the benefits of the award to their personal and professional growth.

Sharing Back with the CORAL Community

As part of the award, recipients are encouraged to share what they’ve learned in a way that benefits fellow CORAL members. This helps foster collaboration and professional growth across the community. Recipients may choose one of the following ways to report back:

🎥 Record a short video summarizing the experience or key takeaways
📝 Write a brief report (1–2 pages) about what was learned and how it applies
🖼️ Design a poster to showcase highlights or insights
📬 Contribute a blog post to the CORAL website or for emailing to the Google Group
🎤 Present at an upcoming CORAL event, either virtually or in-person

We welcome creative formats and are happy to work with you to find the best way to share your experience.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse