The National Library of Australia offers annual fellowships to established researchers and writers. Established by the Council of the National Library of Australia in 1983 as the National Library Fellowships, the first Fellows commenced their research at the Library in 1984. The fellowships were renamed in honour of Sir Harold White CBE (1905-1992), the first National Librarian, in 1985. The fellowships scheme aims to promote the Library as a centre of scholarly activity and research, encourage scholarly and literary use of the Library’s collections and production of publications arising from that scholarship, and to promote the Library’s rich and varied collections. Four to seven fellowships, of periods from three to six months, are awarded annually.

Fellowships are open to established Australian and international researchers and creative writers in any discipline in which the Library has strong collections. Successful applicants are generally senior scholars or writers with a strong publication track record, including publication of full length monographs. Fellowships are not intended for post-doctoral or early career researchers. More than 100 Fellowships have been awarded to scholars from a wide variety of disciplines, and to several award winning Australian creative writers, including Frank Moorhouse, Sara Dowse and David Foster.

Fellowships are not provided to assist with the completion of degree studies and applications from currently enrolled students will not be considered.  Fellowships are awarded once only to each individual; subsequent applications from previous recipients will not be considered.

Fellows are provided with a return economy airfare to Canberra, an honorarium of $850 per week for the period of the Fellowship in Canberra, use of a fully equipped office, 24 hour access to the Library, and free photocopying and interlibrary loans.

All fellows are required to take up their Fellowships during the calendar year for which the Fellowship is awarded and to stay in Canberra for a continuous block of at least three months, spending the majority of their Fellowship time at the Library.  Fellows give a public lecture and a staff talk towards the end of their tenure, and provide the Library with a brief report on their research outcomes and their experience of the Library’s services.  The Library also asks Fellows – where appropriate – to give the Library the first opportunity to publish the results of their research.

Applications for 2014 Fellowships are now open. Applications close on 30 April 2013 (17:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time).  Applicants will be notified of results by the end of August 2013.

For further information and to apply, visit: http://www.nla.gov.au/awards-and-grants/harold-white-fellowships