The Music OCLC Users Group (MOUG) is now accepting applications for the Ralph Papakhian Travel Grant. The grant supports attendance at the annual MOUG meeting and, in recognition of Ralph’s mentoring role in music librarianship over decades, is especially intended to support newer members of the profession in both public and technical services library roles.
The award offers $300 to defray travel expenses; free conference registration for the 2026 MOUG annual meeting in Salt Lake City, February 24-25, plus an additional virtual component (May, exact date TBD); and one year’s free membership in MOUG, including three issues of the MOUG newsletter.
Eligibility: Students, paraprofessionals, or professionals in the first five years of their professional careers who are likely to benefit from MOUG’s educational opportunities are eligible to apply. This includes everyone who works with music materials in libraries or library systems, whether they are music specialists or generalists. Professional and workplace need, financial need, past training and experience, demonstration of initiative, and likely further contributions to the profession are also considered. Applicants need not be current members of MOUG. Preference will be given to applicants who will be attending the MOUG annual meeting for the first time, but anyone who meets the preceding conditions and who has attended a previous MOUG annual meeting is eligible to apply. Preference will also be given to applicants who have not previously been awarded a Ralph Papakhian Travel Grant.
Applications are due Monday, September 15, 2025, and shall consist of a letter that includes a rationale for attending the MOUG annual meeting, an explanation of financial need, and a brief vita/resume.
All application materials shall be sent by email, either as in-text messages or as attachments in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format to the MOUG Vice Chair, Keith Knop. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by e-mail no later than November 1, 2025.
For more information about MOUG, please visit the MOUG website. MOUG has helped train and mentor numerous music library professionals and has helped shape the OCLC products and services we use every day. Please help distribute this announcement as widely as possible.