The library collection at the Elling Eide Center Research Library and Preserve is available by appointment only.

We welcome applications for our Visiting Scholars and Researchers Program. Applications from scholars and researchers of all disciplinary backgrounds will be considered, but preference will be given to applicants whose research focuses on topics related to China, Inner Asia, or greater East Asia before 1500 CE.

Situated on a beautiful 72-acre waterfront preserve on Little Sarasota Bay, the Center’s research library houses more than 60,000 volumes covering every period of Chinese history from ancient times to the modern era and an extensive collection of more than 300 scholarly journals from around the world. Areas of concentration include medieval China from the fourth through tenth centuries, pre-modern peoples and languages of Central and Inner Asia, and poetry of the Tang Dynasty, a field in which Elling O. Eide made a significant and lasting scholarly mark. Holdings are in Chinese, Uyghur, English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, German, and French.

Free lodging will be available on-site in our guest house for those visitors who require it. Our guest house is just a few minutes walk from the library. Visiting scholars will also have access to the Eide Center research library and electronic resources, access to office space (if available), and printing, scanning, photocopying, and mailing privileges. Wireless internet is available in all facilities. 

Funding for visiting scholars is also available. Applicants may receive up to $1,000 for travel or other expenses for the duration of their stay. If you wish to apply for funding, please include a proposed budget in your application. 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Positions are available year-round, including summer. The duration of stay is flexible and should be determined by the research and writing agenda of the applicant.

Prospective Visiting Scholar and Researcher Prerequisites:
Visiting Scholars must hold a Ph.D. or MFA and have a teaching position at a university. Visiting scholars should be working on a defined research project that makes use of the Center’s library holdings. 

Visiting Graduate Researchers must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program and be in the research and writing stage of their thesis or dissertation. 

Additional Requirements:
If the applicant is not a U.S. Permanent Resident or Citizen, they must also meet all U.S. Department of State J-1 Visa Immigration Requirements for International Visiting Scholars.

There will be a required onboarding/registration meeting with the Visiting Scholar administrator.

At the end of the appointment, scholars are expected to give a public talk on their research or writing project (when feasible) and submit a final report on the outcome of their research, including copies of publications or drafts of papers completed during their affiliation with the Center.

Please complete the application material below and submit it directly to Harold G. Mitchell, President and CEO at
hmitchell@ellingoeide.org
. Graduate Researchers should also include one (1) letter of reference should be emailed directly from the referee to hmitchell@ellingoeide.org. Please put “Letter of Reference: [applicant last name]” in the subject line.

For more information, please contact Harold G. Mitchell, President, and CEO at hmitchell@ellingoeide.org.

Visiting Scholar Application
Please submit your application as a single PDF document to hmitchell@ellingoeide.org.

Given Name 
Surname 
Contact Email 
Phone 
Street Address including city, state, country, and postal code 

Education–Highest Degree Awarded
Year Awarded 
Discipline 
Institution 
Current Teaching Position(s)
Brief curriculum vitae (CV) or Resume (education, positions, and publications only)

Position Sought 
Proposed Visit Time Frame: Arrival 
Proposed Visit Time Frame: Departure 
Description of current research project
Brief Research Proposal 
Publication Plans
If applying for funding, please provide a proposed budget
Funding Sources: please provide information about funding sources that you have applied to for funding of your project/visit. Please specify whether funding has been obtained or is pending.