Apply for a research grant at Berlin State Library

Researchers in children’s literature are welcome to apply for a Research Grant of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation at the Berlin State Library, Unter den Linden, Berlin. The book collection of the Children’s and Young People’s Book Department at Berlin State Library is one of the largest and best in Europe, with particular strengths in old and rare German children’s books. It holds 200,000 volumes including 65,000 in languages other than German. In addition, researchers can borrow secondary texts from other Berlin State Library collections, which hold a wealth of critical material. Having spent a happy week prior to the IRSCL Congress working in the reading room of the collection, I can vouch for the expertise of its staff and the easy accessibility of books. And its location on Unter den Linden could not be more central, close to museums, restaurants, shops and markets. Research Grants of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation are for one to three months and fund researchers’ expenses and some travel.

For information, see the website of the SPK (Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz), or email Carola Pohlmann, the helpful and knowledgeable Director of the Children’s and Young People’s Book Department at Berlin State Library (Carola.Pohlmann@sbb.spk-berlin.de).

New board for IRSCL

At the IRSCL General Membership meeting in Frankfurt, a new Board was voted in:

President
Clare Bradford, Australia

Board
Mavis Reimer, Canada: Vice-President and Treasurer
Hélène Ehriander, Sweden: Awards and Grants Coordinator
Hans-Heino Ewers, Germany: Liaison with children’s literature national/regional associations
Kerry Mallan, Australia: Convenor of the 2011 IRSCL Conference in Brisbane, Australia, 2011
Rose-May Pham Dinh, France: Secretary