January 14, 1997

Contact: Guy Lamolinara, Public Affairs (202) 707-9217

---

Library Seeks Applications for New Mellon Foreign Area Fellowship Research Awards

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded the Library of Congress $330,000 to enable it to seek applications for the Mellon Foreign Area Fellowship research awards, aimed at U.S. citizens with Ph.D. degrees who are interested in pursuing research in the Library's unrivaled foreign-language and area studies collections. The Mellon Foundation grant finances three years of competition for the fellowships.

In addition to the requirements of U.S. citizenship and possession of a doctoral degree, the awards are for scholars who are proposing or working on a second major research project with a focus on foreign-language materials. The fellowships will last from five to 11 months and can begin no sooner than Aug. 1, 1997. Stipends of $3,000 per month, up to a maximum of $33,000 for 11 months, will be awarded and may be used to extend the research period supported by other funds.

"These fellowships for younger scholars will play a major role in sustaining our understanding of other cultures at a critical time," said Director of Scholarly Programs Prosser Gifford. "They also make possible the arrival of fellows when we can provide new scholarly facilities in the Jefferson Building." The Office of Scholarly Programs will administer the program and ensure that fellows have opportunities to meet other scholars with experience in the relevant language areas and disciplines.

Many of the Library's distinguished users are known for their work in the history, philosophy and culture of other countries, and they are familiar with the richness of the Library's holdings, two-thirds of which are in foreign languages encompassing all media -- books, films, sound recordings, maps, newspapers, periodicals and government documents.

The Library of Congress is already committed to working with foreign scholars pursuing research in the collections through its Congressional Research Service and Law Library as well as through support from the Soros, Korea and Thatcher foundations.

Selection for the fellowships will be made by a five-member committee including at least three outside members appointed by the Librarian of Congress and chaired by the Director of Scholarly Programs. Mellon Foreign Area Fellows will be brought together once every other month to discuss work in progress, research strategies and findings.

Fellows are expected to reside in the greater Washington area during the course of their research and to devote full time to their projects. They will have access to special research facilities at the Library of Congress.

The application deadline is March 15, 1997. Forms may be obtained from the Office of Scholarly Programs, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC 20540-4860; telephone (202) 707-1517; fax (202) 707-3595. Applications may be submitted by mail, fax or e-mail. Additional information will be available at the Library's home page at http://www.loc.gov/.

# # #

PR 97-2
1/14/97
ISSN 0731-3527