Call for Application – The 2026 CALA Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant

Start
02/24/2026
12:00 AM
End
03/31/2026
11:59 PM

Dear CALA members,

The CALA Best Research Awards Subcommittee (2025–2026) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant is now open for application. Please see the call for application below.

Call for Application––2026 CALA Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant

Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

A. Overview

The purpose of the Sally C. Tseng Professional Development Grant is to support research- and program-related activities by CALA members. A grant of $1,000USD is awarded annually to an individual recipient or multiple recipients from the same project. Proposals must focus on program and research in library and information science with the goal of advancing the INDIVIDUAL’S professional status, knowledge, and contributions to the community. Proposals will be evaluated by the criteria identified in these guidelines.

B. Eligibility

Applicants must:

Be CALA members in good standing for three (3) consecutive years, including the award year.
Demonstrate an interest in library research and professional development by publishing a research paper or delivering a presentation at a conference, institute, or workshop sponsored by professional library organizations (e.g., ALA, CALA, IFLA , the Library Society of China, or the Library Association of China).
Wait five (5) years after receiving the Tseng’s Grant before applying for the grant again.
Preference will be given to applicants who have never received the Tseng's Grant.

C. How to Apply

Applicants should submit one complete application package electronically in PDF format to the Best Research Award Subcommittee (best-research-chair@cala-web.org) with “Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant” in the subject line.

D. Application Package

A complete application package must be submitted in English and must include:

Cover Letter: A brief professional statement (350 words or fewer) describing the applicant’s interest and background in library research and career goals, including the needs, goals, and objectives of the proposed research/project.
Budget.
Timetable for completion.
Three (3) letters of reference, each including the reference’s name, title, institution, email address and signature.
Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

The application package must be received by the Subcommittee via email with all required attachments. Application materials will not be returned.

E. Application Deadline

The complete application package must be received no later than Tuesday March 31, 2026. Late and/or incomplete applications will NOT be accepted nor considered.

F. Funding Sources

Funding is derived from the dividends from the Sally C. Tseng Investment Fund, donated to CALA by the Tseng family and Sally’s friends. US$1,000.00 will be awarded annually to the best applicant .
The Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant is coordinated by CALA Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant Subcommittee.
The Grant may be suspended if there is no qualified applicant or in the case of economic recession that impacts the Tseng Investment Fund (which has been invested in a mutual fund account).

G. Funding Period

One year, July – June.

H. Notification

The Chair or Co-Chairs of the Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant Subcommittee will notify the successful applicant in May, prior to the ALA Annual Conference.
The recipient will be announced via the CALA listserv, CALA Newsletter, CALA website e, and CALA social media.
The recipient will be asked to submit a photograph for grant publicity.
The Sally C. Tseng’s Professional Development Grant will be presented at the CALA Awards Banquet during the ALA Annual Conference.

I. CALA Award Banquet and Report

The successful recipient will be invited to the CALA Annual Awards Banquet by the CALA President, where the Grant will be presented during the ALA annual conference.
The recipient is required to submit a written report to the CALA Executive Director and Sally C. Tseng before the next ALA Annual Conference.

J. Refund

If the terms of the grant are violated, the grant will be rescinded, and the recipient will be required to return the fund in full to the Tseng’s Investment Fund Account in CALA.

Any inquiries may be sent to best-research-chair@cala-web.org.

Sincerely,

CALA Best Research Awards Subcommittee (2025-2026)

Yali Feng

Yanling Liu

Jinxuan Ma (Co-Chair)

Wei Zhang (Co-chair)

Meingjie Zou

CALA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (website: https://cala-web.org)