(The following is a post by Jonathan Loar, South Asia Reference Specialist, Asian Division.)
It’s fellowship season! The Library’s Asian Division is happy to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2026 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship Program.
The purpose of the fellowship is to provide individuals with the opportunity to pursue research in the area of Asian Studies, using the unparalleled collections of the Asian Division and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Please note these important details when submitting your application.
About the Fellowship
- Duration: Minimum of 5 business days on-site research from April 20, 2026 to September 25, 2026
- Award Amounts: $300 – $3,000 (to support travel, lodging, and research expenses)
- Who Should Apply: Graduate students, independent scholars, researchers, and librarians with a demonstrated need for support
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- Foreign nationals already in the U.S. on visas may inquire about eligibility by emailing [email protected] (do not send Personally Identifiable Information)
- H-1B visa holders are not eligible; other visa types reviewed on a case-by-case basis
How to Apply
- Applications must be submitted online only. Download and use the PDF preview to gather needed information for your application
- Deadline: Before midnight (ET), Sunday, January 11, 2026, for the 2026 fellowship cycle
The following resources will provide even more information about the rich and fruitful opportunities for research in the Asian Reading Room.
- Asian Collections at the Library of Congress: An Overview
- Asian Studies: Subscription Databases and Free Electronic Resources
- See additional research guides, for example, on South Asian newspapers, the North Korean collection, the South Korean Democratization Movement, the Vietnam War, Japanese historical periodicals, and much more.
The Asian Division’s Florence Tan Moeson Research Fellowship Program is made possible by the generous donation of Florence Tan Moeson, who served as a cataloger at the Library of Congress for 43 years until she retired in 2001. Mrs. Moeson passed away on November 15, 2008.
Fellowship applicants are welcome to contact the Asian Division’s reference staff through Ask a Librarian with questions about the Library’s collections.
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