MLIS Heritage Scholarships
Heritage scholarships on this page are specifically for students in MLIS programs. For additional scholarship information concerning heritage groups, please see the general heritage scholarships page maintain by the Information School.
General Heritage Groups:
ALA Spectrum Initiative Scholarship Program [http://www.ala.org/spectrum/] A special ALA program, the Spectrum Initiative, is designed to improve library services through development of a more representative workforce. To this end, the Spectrum Initiative offers scholarships of up to $5,000 to students of color who are pursuing graduate degrees in accredited Library and Information Science programs. For more information regarding the Spectrum Initiative, contact Sandra Rios Balderrama (1-800-545-2433, ext. 5020, sbalderr@alao.org) or April Olinger (1-800-545-2433, ext. 4276, aolinger@ala.org).
American Theological Library Association
[www.atla.com]
The American Theological Library Association (ATLA) offers several scholarships for students of color who are interested in theological librarianship. Interested students should contact Karen Whittlesey at kwhittle@atla.com or 888.665.2852
ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce
[http://www.arl.org/diversity/init/] The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is sponsoring an Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce. This initiative is designed to attract MLIS students of color to academic and research libraries through the award of stipends during graduate school in exchange for a two year commitment to work in a research library career. The stipend is $2500 per year and is renewable up to two years. This award is not necessarily dependent upon financial need. Applications are available in the Student Services Office (see Lynnea).
LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship in Library and Information Technology
[http://www.lita.org/a&s/awards.htm] Awarded annually by LITA, a division of the ALA, and Library Systems and Services, Inc., in the amount of $2,500.00. Designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library and automation field who plan to follow a career in that field; who demonstrate potential in, and a strong commitment to the use of automated systems in libraries; and who are qualified members of a principal minority group (American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic). The recipient must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen.
LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship in Library and Information Technology
[http://www.lita.org/a&s/awards.htm] Awarded jointly annually by OCLC, Inc. and LITA, a division of the American Library Association, in the amount of $2,500.00. Designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library and automation field who plan to follow a career in that field; who demonstrate potential in and have a strong commitment to the use of automated systems in libraries; and who are qualified members of a principal minority group (American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic). The recipient must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen.
MLA Scholarship for Minority Students [http://www.mlanet.org/awards/grants.html#MLAscmin]
The MLA Scholarship for Minority Students is intended to encourage candidates who show excellence in scholarship and potential for leadership to pursue a career in health sciences librarianship. This year the scholarship is up to $5000.To be eligible for the MLA Scholarship for Minority Students, applicants must be entering an ALA-accredited graduate library program or must have completed no more than half of his/her graduate library program at the time of the award announcement (February). Applicants must be members of a minority group; this is defined as African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander. Finally, applicants must also be citizens of or have permanent residence status in the United States or Canada. In addition to the scholarship, the recipient of the MLA Scholarship for Minority Students also receives a one-year student membership in MLA and free, inclusive registration at the association's annual meeting.
National Conference on Asian Pacific American Librarians (NCAPAL) [http://bioac.uky.edu/ncapal/REL7.HTM] NCAPAL is co-sponsored by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA). The Conference represents an unprecedented effort of the two ALA ethnic affiliates to provide a forum for librarians and library supporters to share their interest in the diversity of APA heritages, the excellence of APA scholarship and the progress that APA library communities have made in the United States.
Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award [http://www.archivists.org/recognition/pinkett.html]
The Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award is offered by the Society of American Archivists for attendance to the Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting. The award is open to minority undergraduate and graduate students of African, Asian, Hispanic and Native American descent, who through scholastic and personal achievement manifest an interest in becoming professional archivist and an active member of SAA. The awardee will recieve a certificate and a cash prize supporting full registration and related expenses for hotel and travel to the SAA conference.
SLA Affirmative Action Scholarships SLA Affirmative Action Scholarships [http://www.sla.org/committee/sarc/affirmschol.html] Provides support for graduate study in librarianship leading to a master's degree at a recognized school of library or information science. Eligible applicants must be members of a minority group, defined as Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaskan Native. One $6,000 scholarship is available each year.
Sylvia Lake Finley Multiethnic Fellowship
Criteria: Candidates must quality for minority status specifically as American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or Chicano as defined by the University of Washington’s office of Minority Affairs, financial need as established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and admission to the University of Washington Graduate School and to the School of Library and Information Sciences. The number of fellowships awarded will be determined each year by the amount of funds available and the number of qualified candidates. Fellowship recipients are to be selected during the Spring Quarter. They are to receive a prorated portion of funds during each quarter they are in attendance during the following academic year. The Financial Awards Committee selects recipients of UW Library and Information scholarships. All iSchool students are considered and no application is necessary.
UWAA Multicultural Alumni Partnership Scholarships
[http://www.washington.edu/alumni/clubs/map/2003mapscholapp.pdf]
The scholarships will be awarded to full-time UW students in good academic standing who demonstrate financial need (as determined by the Financial Aid Office).
Specific Heritage Groups:
Alaska Library Association Scholarship [http://www.alaska.net/~akla/scholar.html]
To provide financial assistance to students pursuing a Graduate Degree in Library Science and to encourage graduates to return to Alaska to work in professional library positions. Preference is given to a person meeting the federal requirements of Alaska Native ethnicity.
Association of Jewish Libraries Scholarship
[http://aleph.lib.ohio-state.edu/www/ajl.html]
In order to encourage students to train for, and enter, the field of Judaica librarianship, the Association of Jewish Libraries awards a scholarship of $500 to a student attending or planning to attend a graduate school of library and information science. Prospective candidates should have an interest in, and demonstrate a potential for, pursuing a career in Judaica librarianship.
Chinese-American Library Association (CALA) Sheila Suen Lai Scholarship of Library and Information Science [http://www.cala-web.org] Awards $500 to a full-time student of Chinese heritage who is currently enrolled in a ALA-accredited master’s program or in a doctoral program in Library and Information Science in a degree-granting institution in North America. This website contains an application form as well as more information about the scholarship.
E. J. Josey Scholarship [http://www.bcala.org/josey_sub.html] The E. J. Josey Scholarship is a grant of $2,000 to be awarded annually to an African American student enrolled in, or accepted by, ALA accredited programs in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants are judged on the basis of application essays of 1,000 to 1,200 words discussing issues, problems, or challenges facing library service to minority populations such as African Americans, and other supporting documentation submitted for review by the scholarship committee.
The National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking REFORMA Scholarship Program [http://clnet.ucr.edu/library/reforma/schinfo.html] Provides financial assistance to encourage and enable Spanish speakers to pursue or advance a career in library and information science. Any current or newly entering graduate library school student [M.L.S. or Ph.D.] at an ALA-accredited institution may apply. A minimum of $2000 is awarded annually. The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year. This website contains an application form as well as additional scholarship information.
National Dr. May K. Simon Memorial Scholarship [http://aleph.lib.ohio-state.edu/www/ajl.html]
Association of Jewish Libraries President
15 East 26 Street
Room 1034
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 725-5359
One $500 scholarship is offered annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Candidate must have a Bachelor's degree and be accepted or enrolled in an American Library Association (ALA) accredited library school. Must have received academic education in Judaic studies. Scholarship is not renewable.