Fellowships to study at Kent State University’s Reinberger Children’s Library Center

Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for two $1,500 research fellowships:

The Jacqueline M. Albers Guest Scholar in Children’s Literature Fellowship was endowed by SLIS alumna Jacqueline M. Albers to support a guest scholar who will study children’s literature using the collections in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center.

The Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz Fellowship for Picturebook Research, supported by Dr. Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz, encourages scholarly research on the study of picture books using the resources of the Marantz Picturebook Collection for the Study of Picturebook Art.

If awarded, funds could be used to coordinate a research visit with attending the Marantz Picturebook Research Symposium, July 24-26, 2016.

Each fellowship provides a stipend of up to $1,500 for outstanding scholars to spend approximately one week on site, researching picture books, posters or ephemera related to picturebooks in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center and Marantz Picturebook Collection at the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science in Kent, Ohio, U.S.A. Stipends may be used toward travel, lodging, food and research-related supplies.

Mission of the Reinberger Children’s Library Center and the Marantz Picturebook Collection for the Study of Picturebook Art

From historical books for children to contemporary literature for young people, the Reinberger Children’s Library Center and the Marantz Picturebook Collection encompass diverse collections of youth literature that span geographic, cultural, physical, technological and temporal borders. The collections represent the best literature and related materials for young people. They also demonstrate the processes involved in producing, publishing and marketing such literature over time, from evolving means of production to differing constructions of childhood. In addition, the state-of-the-art Center provides opportunities to study connections between literacy, reading and digital technologies, which is valuable for practitioners as well as scholars.

The Center’s purpose is threefold: 1) to support and encourage scholarly research within its collections; 2) to provide professional training to students and practitioners; and 3) to engage in activities and outreach to the community and beyond. The Center’s collection is of interest to interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners from such fields as youth services librarianship, school library media, children’s literature, education, English, communication, media studies, design, and others interested in studying youth literature, publishing, young people and reading in both an historical and contemporary context.

The Reinberger and Marantz collections combine to form a research library collection of more than 30,000 books and related ephemera.

Following is a sampling of the types of studies which could be done using the collections:

• The art of picture book illustration (media and techniques)
• Themes and trends in children’s literature
• Social construction of childhood through children’s literature
• Social justice in children’s picturebooks
• Studies of American Children’s Award winners
• Historical perspectives on children’s literature (and the work of May Hill Arbuthnot)
• Contemporary perspectives (ebook vs. print picture books)
• Reviewing studies (Including the work of Ken and Sylvia Marantz)
• Publishing studies on books for young readers
• Study of pop-ups/paper engineering

Criteria for Eligibility

• Albers: Applicants will be evaluated based on their proven dedication to the study of children’s literature (not specifically picture books) and selection of a topic of study related to the Reinberger and Marantz collections.
• Marantz: Applicants will be evaluated based on their proven dedication to the study of children’s picture books and selection of a topic of study related to the Reinberger and Marantz collections.
• Preference will be given to topics likely to be published or otherwise disseminated.
• Awards also will be based on applicants’ scholarly qualifications.
• Applicants from diverse academic disciplines are welcome to apply, including but not limited to: youth services librarianship, school library media, children’s literature, art, education, English, communication, media studies, design, art education, illustration, publishing, and others interested in studying youth literature, young people and reading.
• Applicants must hold at least a master’s degree.

Application Process

Please provide the following materials using the form at this link: http://bit.ly/ksuSLISfellowsApp.

• A two-page summary addressing the topic of your proposed study and the potential impact of your work. Include an outline of the project and its relationship to previous and current scholarship in the field, how the resources of the Kent State collections will support your research, as well as the anticipated outcome of the project and plans for publication.
• Curriculum vitae / resume including name, title, contact information, education.
• A proposed budget of anticipated travel and research expenses, and suggested dates of study in Kent.

Stipends must be used within one year from receipt of funds, at which time expenditure reports will be due.

Applications must be submitted on the appropriate form (http://bit.ly/ksuSLISfellowsApp) no later than midnight on Jan. 30, 2016.

Winners will be announced via email on or before March 1, 2016.

Conditions

• Recipients of the Marantz Fellowship for Picturebook Research must be willing to present (in-person or online) their research related to the fellowship findings at a future picture book symposium hosted by Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science.
• Recipients of the Albers Fellowship must be willing to present (in-person or online) their research related to the fellowship findings at a future symposium hosted by Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science.
• Recipients must be willing to have their name, photo and title of research promoted via publicity and marketing channels at Kent State University.
• Any publications resulting from this support should credit the appropriate fellowship.
• Applicants agree to send a copy of any ensuing publications to the Reinberger Children’s Library Center at Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science.

For questions please contact Michelle Baldini: mbaldini@kent.edu or Marianne Martens: mmarten3@kent.edu.