Grants to Scholars is the Friends program which helps to fund visiting scholars with particular research needs in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. The Friends award a handful of grants to scholars annually, each of which is generally for one month’s duration, for research in the humanities, sciences, and related fields appropriate to the libraries’ collection strengths. Awards are made up to $2,000 for recipients from North America, and $3,000 for those from elsewhere in the world. The purpose is to foster the high-level use of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries’ rich holdings, and to make them better known and more accessible to a wider circle of scholars. The annual application deadline is February 1 of any year.

Generally, applicants must have a Ph.D. or be able to demonstrate a record of solid intellectual accomplishment. Scholars and graduate students who have completed all requirements except the dissertation are also eligible. Applicants’ proposals should state the specific areas and collections to be used in our libraries and provide information as to why these collections will be of unique benefit to their research. The grants to scholars are designed primarily to help provide access to UW-Madison library resources for people who live beyond commuting distance. Preference is given to younger researchers who are within 10 years of completing their Ph.D. or terminal degree, and to scholars who reside outside a 150 mile radius of Madison. The grantee is expected to be in residence during the term of the award, which may be taken up at any time during the year.

Please contact our office with any questions, we can be reached at (608) 265-2505, or via email, friends@library.wisc.edu