The Library of Congress Scholarship Scheme is run in partnership between the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and ESRC to provide opportunities to access the internationally renowned research collections held at the American Library of Congress (LoC), in Washington DC. The Scheme is open to applications from doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants funded by the AHRC and ESRC.
Shanna Marrinan, one of the first people to be awarded an LoC scholarship reflects on what the scholarship meant to her and her experiences.
"The title of my PhD is "Incorporating Gender Consciousness into HIV prevention education (sexual transmission) for Latin American immigrants to the UK". The main aims are to explore how gender issues (Machismo, Marianismo) affect the risk of HIV transmission for this group, and the effectiveness of preventative education.
"Whilst very little is known about the rapidly growing Latin American community in the UK, in the US they form one of the largest ethnic minorities and US research reflects this presence. In fact, the LoC has a dedicated Hispanic division. During my time at LoC, I focused on a number of main themes, so that my findings could be applied where appropriate to the Latin American population in the UK. Some of the areas I focused on included ethnic health disparities, changing gender roles in a broader context, self-perceived risk, and protective behaviours and discourses around homosexuality.
"The library itself was indescribably impressive. The beautiful ceilings in the main reading room are reason enough to visit. The study facilities we were provided with were truly excellent - individual air-conditioned booths that contained a computer, telephone, desk and nearby access to printers. The librarians and the staff from the Office of Scholarly Programs were incredibly helpful in guiding any of our research needs.
"The number of journals that the library subscribes to is astounding, and these were often available online in full text format. I also made use of the book ordering facility, where you can request books and journals to be brought directly to your desk.
"Overall, I believe the study period was hugely beneficial for my research, providing me with unparalleled access to resources, and contacts with scholars and professionals with similar interests. The visit was also of enormous personal benefit, of course, as I was able to visit the White House, the Kennedy Centre and many other significant historical and political sites. It was an experience for which I will be eternally grateful."
The 2007 call for applications will be published at the end of January and details of the scheme can be found on the AHRC website at: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/holders/postgrad/library_of_congress_scholarship_scheme.asp
For further information about the Library of Congress scheme contact Fiona Gibson on +44(0)117 987 6530 (email f.gibson@ahrc.ac.uk).