(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University)
If you need a bit of financial help to get through your graduate program, scholarship funds are now available. The American Library Association (ALA) has more than $300,000 available to students who are studying in library science or school library media programs at the master’s degree level. Get your application in early. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Scholarships range from $2,500 to $8,000 per student per year. They include scholarships for students who are interested in children’s librarianship, youth librarianship, federal librarianship, new media and library automation. In addition, there are also scholarships available for minorities, persons with disabilities and people who are already employed in libraries but do not have an MLS.
To be considered for one of these scholarships, applicants must attend a master’s level program in library and information science that has been accredited by the ALA. Take a look at the application and instructions (https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/scholarships) and get started working on your application now.
Applicants interested in school librarianship must attend a program that meets ALA curriculum guidelines for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Complete guidelines and instructions for the nationally reviewed and recognized CAEP/AASL school librarianship education programs are available on the American Association of School Librarians, or AASL, website.
The scholarship process is open annually from September through March. For more information, visit the ALA Scholarship page or call the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse at (800) 545-2433, ext. 4279.