Music Library Association (MLA) Research Grants

The Music Library Association is the professional association for music libraries and librarianship in the United States. Founded in 1931, it has an international membership of librarians, musicians, scholars, educators, and members of the book and music trades. Complementing the Association’s national and international activities are ten regional chapters that carry out its programs on the local level. MLA offers multiple funding opportunities for music research.

Carol June Bradley Award for Historical Research in Music Librarianship

The Carol June Bradley Award for Historical Research in Music Librarianship was created by the Music Library Association in 2003 through the generous financial support of its namesake. Since Dr. Bradley’s death in 2009, MLA has continued to fund the award in her honor. The award exists to support research into the history of music libraries and music librarianship. There are no restrictions as to an applicant’s age, nationality, profession, or institutional affiliation. All proposals are reviewed entirely on the basis of merit. The decision of the Bradley Award Committee and the MLA Board of Directors is announced at MLA’s annual meeting. Calls for applications are issued in the spring.

Dena Epstein Award for Archival and Library Research in American Music

The Dena Epstein Award for Archival and Library Research in American Music was created through a generous endowment from Morton and Dena Epstein to the Music Library Association in 1995. Grants are awarded to support research in archives or libraries internationally on any aspect of American music. There are no restrictions as to an applicant’s age, nationality, profession, or institutional affiliation. All proposals are reviewed entirely on the basis of merit. The decision by the Dena Epstein Award Committee and the Board of Directors of the Music Library Association is announced at the MLA annual meeting. Calls for applications are issued in the spring.

Walter Gerboth Award

The Walter Gerboth Award was established in 1984 by the Music Library Association in memory of its Past President and Honorary Member Walter Gerboth. Walter Gerboth was a librarian, teacher, mentor, a leader in the Music Library Association, and a pathmaker in music librarianship. The award is made to support research-in-progress in music or music librarianship. If an award is offered, applicants must be MLA members in good standing in order to accept. Calls for applications are issued in the spring. Awards are announced each year at the MLA Annual meeting.