The Naseej Academy Grant to Attend the Mortenson Center Associates Program was developed to support the region’s knowledge community by sponsoring a professional working in the field of libraries, information centers and archival institutions in the Arab World, to attend the Mortenson Center Associates Program.
Grant’s Terms to apply
- Currently employed in a library, information center, or archive, with minimum three years’ experience.
- Participants should be fluent in conversational English and possess a reading knowledge of English. This program is delivered in English only.
- Willingness and ability to share what is learned while at the Mortenson Center with others in the participant’s home country.
- Excellent communication skills.
Grant’s Winners
2025
Ms. Ikhlas Ahmad, ( Qatar )
Engagement specialist at the Heritage Library, Qatar National Library
2024
Mrs. Khadija Muhsin, ( United Arab Emirates )
Director of Library Services Department at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library
2023
Ms. Thikra Mohammed O. Alharbi, ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Librarian at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU -HS)
2020
Mr. Muneer Nasser Obaid Albattashi, (Sultanate of Oman)
Oman virtual scince library Director
Dr. Fatima N. H. A. Alqaoud, (Kuwait)
Head of Library Systems & Technology Unit, Kuwait University
Read Ms. Fatima N. H. A. Alqaoud Report
2019
Ms. Mona Mansour Al Buhamaid, (Kingdom of Bahrain)
National Book Library Specialist, Isa Cultural Center
Ms. Seham Kazem Abdul Rahman Al-Ostaz (Kuwait)
Director of Technical Affairs and Research, Ministry of Education, Kuwait Library Department..
Read Ms. Seham’s professional Report
2018
Ms. Nehad Ali Said AL Hadi (Sultanate of Oman)
Librarian at Main Library, Sultan Qaboos University
Mr. Mohannad Salameh AlKhalialeh (Jordan)
Manager of Studies and Information Department at the University of Jordan Library
2017
Mr. Walid bin Ali bin Salem (Sultanate of Oman)
President of Oman Libraries Association
Ms. Dalal Abdul Qawi Muhammad Qassim (UAE)
Information Specialist, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)
2026 Mortenson Center Associates Program Highlights
2026 Mortenson Center Associates Program, titled: “Poised for Impact: Data, User, Strategy-Driven Libraries: A Professional Development and Leadership Program for Library and Information Science (LIS) Professionals”, the program will be held from 1 to 24 June , 2026, in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA.
We are excited to invite library, information and archive professionals in the Arab world to apply for the grant.
The 2026 Mortenson Center Associates Program will offer individuals working in a library and/or information services setting outside the United States an opportunity to explore critical issues and trends in the library field and engage with librarians implementing cutting-edge programs and services.
Program participants will learn about novel and inventive practices and services in areas such as:
- User-centered Services
- AI and Emerging Technologies
- Environmental Scanning
- Leadership, Communication and Strategic change
- Library Assessment and Communicating Impact
- Multiple Literacies
- Digital and Print Collections and Repositories
- International Professional Networking
.
2026 Program will have the following:
- Seminars and Workshops introduce and explore current trends in the field. Library experts will be invited to share their perspectives, offer expertise, and foster conversations on the themes of leadership and impact to build data, user, strategy-driven libraries.
- Tours of a variety of libraries, including academic, public, and special libraries.
- We may also visit the American Library Association headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and other sites of interest.
- Networking with a dynamic group of international colleagues during and post-program.
- Participants will develop individual action plans, appropriate to their professional and institutional needs, and will receive post-program implementation review.
- Each participant will receive a Certificate of Program Participation upon completion.
- Scheduling to allow participants to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Library Association (ALA), if they wish.
- The 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition will be in Chicago, IL, June 25-29, 2026. https://2026.alaannual.org/ .Arrangements and registration for the conference must be made separately and are not included in the program costs.
For more information about "Mortenson Center Associates Program"
To Apply:
Soon
