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.
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 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.