MLA Board Approves Groundbreaking Research Fellowship for Librarians

The MLA Board recently approved the creation of the nation’s first Research Fellowship in librarianship.

The MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) Research Fellowship is awarded to talented RTI participants who have completed the rigorous RTI program, which includes completing 16 courses, participating in seven mentor sessions, conducting a research project, and presenting their findings at an MLA annual meeting. To achieve RTI Research Fellowship status, candidates must also publish their research as first author in a peer-reviewed journal. In recognition of these achievements, the Board granted RTI Research Fellows the use of the post-nominal letters “RTIF.”

Thirty of the 70 participants who have completed the RTI program and published their research projects are eligible to be RTI Research Fellows. We will formally announce the recipients of the RTI Research Fellowship at the next MLA Awards Ceremony.

The RTI Research Fellowship, with the prestigious “RTIF” designation, opens doors to significant career advancement opportunities for recipients. It will attract greater interest in the RTI program and encourage more librarians and graduate students to build research skills, thereby contributing to the growth of our profession. It will also act as a powerful catalyst for generating new health information research and raising awareness of librarians’ intellectual contributions across various disciplines.

Furthermore, establishing the RTI Research Fellowship solidifies MLA’s status as a leader in LIS research education, setting a national and global benchmark for excellence.

The journey to becoming an RTI Research Fellow begins with applying to the Research Training Institute, which has been running annually since 2018. Applications for the 2025-26 RTI cohort will open on November 1, 2024. To learn more about the RTI’s impact and success, explore further details via MLANET and JMLA.