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Program The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress

Application Information

Eligibility

  • Open to scholars and practitioners worldwide
  • Open to U.S. citizens or foreign nationals
  • Open to scholars from all disciplines
  • Ph.D. or other advanced terminal degree strongly preferred

Tenure & Stipend

  • For residency up to 11 months. Constraints of space and the desirability of accommodating the maximum number of Fellows may lead to an offer of fewer months than requested
  • $5,000 per month, paid monthly by the Library of Congress, by means of electronic transfer to a U.S. bank account
  • For residential research at the Library of Congress only

Applications

Applicants must submit:

  • A completed application form, in English
  • A curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages; additional pages will be discarded)
  • A complete project proposal, including:
    • A single-paragraph abstract
    • A statement of proposed research (maximum 3 pages)
    • An explanation of why the Library of Congress is the appropriate venue for your research and what collections you will utilize, if any (maximum 1 paragraph)
    • Description of your technical approach and/or methodology (maximum 2 paragraphs)
    • A bibliography of works you have consulted for your proposal
  • Two letters of reference with completed reference forms from people who have read the research proposal

Applicants should indicate the collections of the Library of Congress that will be used for research.

Due Date

Applications will open April 15, 2024 and be accepted up to 11:59pm, September 15, 2024. Please click here to visit our application portal to begin your application!

Expectations

Two copies of any books that result from research at the Kluge Center should be sent to the Library of Congress. It is the responsibility of the fellow to notify Center staff of any other resulting academic publications (articles, films, websites, etc.). Fellows will also have opportunities to meet with Library specialists and curators while in residence. This is a residential fellowship, and the fellows are expected to be in full-time residence (for up to 11 months) at the Kluge Center while conducting research at the Library. The fellows will be provided with research space and support in the Kluge Center and are expected to engage in the life of the Center while in residence. Fellows should be prepared to present their research to staff and public audiences; this presentation can take the form of a moderated discussion, blog post, performance, and/or other format, following discussion and agreement with the Kluge Center and related staff. The Kluge Center cannot at this time provide any specialty software or nonstandard equipment that may be necessary for the fellows' proposed research. Fellows should utilize specialty software on their own personal computers.

Evaluation

A panel of scholars will review your application materials. The panel will consider your application in relation to numerous other proposals. Evaluation criteria will include:

  • The significance of the project's contribution to knowledge in the field
  • The quality of the conception, definition, organization, and description of the project
  • The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project in the proposed timeline
  • The appropriateness of the research for the Library of Congress

Awards

Up to three Kluge Fellowships in Digital Studies will be awarded by the Library of Congress.

Awards will be announced in the spring of the year following that in which the application is due. For non-U.S. fellows, your award is conditioned on visa and payment eligibility, which are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Your payment may be subject to federal and state income taxes. To qualify for entry into the United States under a Library-sponsored J-visa, you must obtain specific types and amounts of medical insurance to cover you during your stay in the United States. If your present medical insurance does not meet these requirements, you are required to arrange for a separate policy prior to your arrival. Staff members are available to provide guidance regarding insurance requirements. The Library does not provide health insurance coverage but can provide contacts with commercial providers.
If you are a U.S. resident, the Library will provide you with an annual report of Library payments to you during the calendar year, but it will not issue you a Form W-2 or Form 1099-MISC. Determining the amount of federal and state income taxes that you may owe will be your responsibility.

Award letters will include a form that must be filled out and submitted to the Library of Congress to determine tax residency status and the potential for U.S. federal income tax withholding. Scholars who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who do not already have a U.S. Social Security number will be required to obtain either a Social Security or tax identification number, as appropriate, at the start of their fellowship at the Library, regardless of the taxability of their income under this program or exemption under a treaty with the United States.

Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of each fellow. Housing is not provided by the Library of Congress.

Contact Information

Completed application packets should be submitted via the Kluge Center online application system. Access our online application portal here.

Applications submitted via email, fax, or regular mail will not be considered. For questions about application procedures, eligibility, stipend, or deadlines, please email scholarly@loc.gov. For questions about digital collection availability, please email labs@loc.gov