The Helen Knoll Jira Scholarship is a program of the Health Science Librarians of Illinois. The maximum award amount is $5,000 per year. Award funds can be used toward tuition, books, class fees, and general living expenses. Winners will receive $1,000 in September. The remaining $4,000 will be awarded no later than December after one of the criteria below are fulfilled:
Attendance at the annual HSLI Conference
Online meeting with HSLI membership
Submit an essay to the Scholarship Committee
Before receiving the second payment, students must also provide proof of attendance. This documentation can be an unofficial transcript, class schedule, or tuition statement.
Scholarship winners will also receive a student registration to the HSLI conference and a 2-year student membership to HSLI.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be enrolled and in good standing at an ALA accredited master’s, PHD or CAS degree program in library or information science. At this time, applications will not be considered for continuing education, conference registration, or non-degree seeking programs.
Applicants must meet one or more of these additional criteria:
- Applicant is an Illinois resident
- Applicant works in a library located in Illinois
- Applicant’s graduate program in library or information science is at a Illinois university
The following qualifications are not required, but applicants may be ranked higher for providing evidence of the following:
- Applicant indicates an interest in pursuing health science librarianship
- Work experience in the medical field
- Membership with MLIS professional associations
- Demonstrated financial need
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the online application form.
A complete application includes:
- Cover letter (2 pages maximum)
- Diversity statement (250-500 words)
- Proof of enrollment in a library or information science graduate program
About the Award
The first Jira Scholarship award was granted in 2023. Past winners are listed below.
- Devyn Wilder, Cristina Ligon 2024
- Elisabeth Ayorinde, 2023
The family of librarian and teacher Helen Knoll Jira provided the initial funds for the scholarship fund in order to contribute to education and librarianship in Illinois.