Diversity Scholarships
Diversity Scholarships
A Commitment to Diversity
The SJSU School of Information attracts students from all over the world with diverse backgrounds and experiences that contribute to the richness of the library and information science profession. Diversity is a core value of the American Library Association (ALA), with a whole department working towards recruiting a LIS workforce that is richly diverse in order to provide the highest quality of information services to all people. A recent photo essay from Slate Magazine entitled, “This is What a Librarian Looks Like” helps to break down long-held stereotypes and showcases the reality of a workforce that reflects the diverse nature of our library patrons and our country.
According to the ACRL standards on diversity in libraries, “diversity is an essential component of any civil society. It is more than a moral imperative; it is a global necessity. Everyone can benefit from diversity, and diverse populations need to be supported so they can reach their full potential for themselves and their communities.” For further information about the ACRL’s diversity standards, check out this iSchool Webcast from Spring 2013, “A Practical Guide to ACRL’s Diversity Standards”.
The ALA, ACRL, and other library organizations are committed to contributing to the creation of a diverse workforce by establishing scholarships, fellowships, and recruitment programs to attract potential information professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. The following pages highlight many of these opportunities both nationwide and within California.
Diversity Scholarships
Visit each organization’s website for more information and keep in mind that deadlines may have changed.
Nationwide
American Association of Law Libraries George A. Strait Minority Scholarship
MLIS candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds who have experience and an interest to work in law libraries are encouraged to apply. Award amount varies.
Deadline: May 1st
American Indian Library Association Virginia Mathews Memorial Scholarship
Qualified American Indian applicants who have been accepted in to an ALA accredited LIS program are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Recipients are awarded up to $2,000 for one academic school year.
Deadline: May
American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship
Students from historically underrepresented populations who have completed no less that 1/3 of their MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program are encouraged to apply. Recipients receive $5,000 scholarship in addition to professional development support.
Deadline: March
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Scholarship
Financial assistance is provided to a student of Asian or Pacific background who is enrolled, or has been accepted into, a master’s or doctoral degree program in library and/or information science at an ALA-accredited school. Award amount is not specified.
Deadline: April
Association of Research Libraries Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce
The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce endeavors to draw MLIS students from underrepresented groups to careers in research libraries. Applicants must be accepted into an ALA-accredited MLIS program. The Initiative includes a stipend up to $10,000 (over two years), leadership and career development training, and a formal mentorship program.
Deadline: June
ARL/MLA Diversity & Inclusion initiative
This initiative seeks to address the growing need for professional staff in music and performing arts libraries who better reflect evolving demographics of students and faculty in music and performing arts higher education. To that end this partnership with ARL, MLA, and IMLS offers a suite of financial benefits and professional development opportunities, including: A tuition stipend of up to ARL, MLA, and IMLS offers a suite of financial benefits and professional development opportunities, including: A tuition stipend of up to $10,000 distributed over a maximum of two years; a paid internship in a partner music/performing arts library up to 660 hours for up to one calendar year; financial assistance for relocation (maximum $1,000) to the area of the MLIS program into which the participant has been accepted and will enroll; paid student membership in the Music Library Association (MLA) for one year; mentoring by a library/information professional from the partner library; support for travel to and attendance at the annual MLA Annual Meeting; and career placement assistance.
Deadline: Rolling
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies Century Scholarship
A scholarship of up to $2,500 that funds services or accommodation for a library school student(s) with disabilities admitted to an ALA-accredited library school. The scholarship will fund services or accommodations that are either not provided by law or otherwise by the university that will enable the student or students to successfully complete the course of study for a Master’s or Doctorate in Library Science and become a library or information studies professional.
Deadline: March
Chinese American Librarians Association Scholarships
Students of Chinese descent or nationality and who are enrolled as full-time students in an ALA-accredited program are encouraged to apply. Students can apply for any of the four scholarships CALA offers (totaling $2,200) through a single application.
Deadline: March
Medical Library Association Scholarship for Minority Students
African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander American individuals entering into an ALA-accredited program, who wish to study health sciences librarianship are encouraged to apply. Recipients are awarded up to $5,000.
Deadline: Not Specified
REFORMA Scholarship
The REFORMA Scholarship provides up to $1,500 of 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.] may apply for this scholarship. Applicant must provide proof of enrollment to an accredited library school. Full-time status is not a requirement.
Deadline: April
Society of American Archivists Mosaic Scholarship
The purpose of the Mosaic scholarship is to provide financial and mentoring support to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science, to encourage students to pursue a career as an archivist, and to promote the diversification of the American archives profession. The award is given to applicants who demonstrate excellent potential for scholastic and personal achievement and who manifest a commitment both to the archives profession and to advancing diversity concerns.
Deadline: February
LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship
The LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship, established in 1991, is awarded jointly annually by OCLC, Inc. and the Library and Information Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association, in the amount of $3,000. The scholarship is 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. This scholarship is for study in an ALA Accredited Master of Library Science (MLS) program.
Deadline: March 1st
SJSU iSchool Blanche Woolls Spectrum Scholarship
The SJSU iSchool Blanche Woolls Spectrum Scholarship endowed in honor of Dr. Blanche Woolls, former professor and director from 1997-2005, offers $1,000 to a current SJSU iSchool student already holding a Spectrum scholarship from the American Library Association.
Deadline: Spring, usually March 1st – 30th
California Specific
(check other state library associations for other state-resident-specific scholarships)
The CLA Scholarship For Minority Students In Memory Of Edna Yelland
This scholarship supports ethnic minority students in the attainment of a graduate degree in library or information science. Candidates must be enrolled in a master’s program in an ALA-accredited library school and have completed one or more courses. CLA awards three scholarships annually, in the amount of $2,500 each. The amount of each scholarship may change, depending upon available funds and the financial need of applicants. Open to California Residents only.
Deadline: April
CSLA Leadership for Diversity Scholarship
Recognizing the need for library media teachers who reflect the diversity of California’s multicultural, multilingual population, the California School Library Association (CSLA) has established a Leadership for Diversity Scholarship. One award of $1,500 will be given to an individual enrolled in a college or university library media teacher credential program. Must intend to work as a teacher librarian in a California school library media center for a minimum of three years.
Deadline: December
CLBC Eunice J. H. Parker Scholarship
The California Librarians Black Caucus offers the Eunice J. H. Parker Scholarship to encourage and support Black MLIS students. The amount of the award varies from year to year, depending on available funding. The scholarship recognizes Eunice J. H. Parker (1921-1984), who was a founding member of the CLBC Northern Chapter and devoted her time, energy and much of her career recruiting and encouraging Blacks in the field of librarianship and other educational pursuits. Open to California Residents only.
Deadline: May
CSU Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students
The $6,500 award provides assistance for full-time students at CSU campuses who are declared visually impaired or legally blind. CSU undergraduates or graduate students in any major field are eligible with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. The estate of Dale M. Schoettler, himself a successful visually impaired businessman, funds these scholarships. Open to all full-time students at CSU campuses.
Deadline: Unknown
Rita Torres / Bibliotecas Para La Gente Scholarship
Established in 1975, Bibliotecas Para La Gente (BPLG) advocates for and provides library services to the Spanish speaking and Latino communities of Northern California. BPLG has established a $1000 scholarship to be awarded to a current SJSU iSchool Student. The scholarship will be awarded to a beginning or continuing SJSU iSchool student residing in Northern California who has demonstrated an interest in furthering the goals of BPLG in providing library service to the Spanish speaking and Latino communities.
Deadline: November
Midwest Archives Conference Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Students of African, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Latino descent are encouraged to apply for the Motley Memorial Scholarship for minority students, sponsored by the Midwest Archives Conference to encourage diversity in archival administration. Two scholarships of $750 each are awarded annually.
For more information, please visit the Midwest Archives website.
MLA Scholarship for Underrepresented Students
A scholarship of up to $5,000 is awarded annually by the Medical Library Association (MLA) to a student who shows excellence in scholarship and potential for accomplishment in health sciences librarianship. The scholarship is announced at the annual meeting of the association, where the recipient will also receive a one-year MLA student membership and free inclusive student registration at the association’s annual meeting.
Islamic Scholarship Fund
The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity founded in 2009 whose mission is to address the underrepresentation of American Muslims in the fields and occupations that influence public opinion and make public policy. The Islamic Scholarship Fund’s goal is to encourage and support Muslim students to become future lawyers, politicians, journalists, film makers, and academicians that properly represent Islam and Muslims in the US.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation’s leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. Founded in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HSF’s vision is to strengthen the country by advancing college education among Hispanic Americans. In support of its mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country.
CSU Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students
The $6,500 award provides assistance for full-time students at CSU campuses who are declared visually impaired or legally blind. CSU undergraduates or graduate students in any major field are eligible with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. The estate of Dale M. Schoettler, a successful, visually impaired businessman, funds these scholarships.
For more information, please visit the CSU Scholarships webpage.
CLBC Eunice J. H. Parker Scholarship
The California Librarians Black Caucus (CLBC) offers the Eunice J. H. Parker Scholarship to encourage and support Black MLIS students in the attainment of graduate or post-graduate degrees in library and/or information studies. The amount of each award as well as the actual number granted will vary each year, depending upon available funds. The Eunice J. H. Parker Scholarship Award recognizes Eunice J. H. Parker (1921-1984) who was instrumental in founding the CLBC Northern Chapter and worked untiringly as a member until her death.
ARL Kaleidoscope Program
The ARL Kaleidoscope Program (formerly, the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce IRDW), funded by ARL member libraries, was established in 2000 as a member response to the low representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the professional workforce among member institutions. The purpose of this program is to attract students from traditionally underrepresented groups to careers in academic and research libraries, and archives.
AJL Scholarship
The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) awards an annual $1000 scholarship to a promising student with a history of participating in Judaic studies or libraries, accepted into or attending an accredited graduate school of library and information science. This scholarship is merit-based rather than needs-based. Prospective candidates should have knowledge of and interest in Jewish studies, and demonstrate the potential, ability, and intention of pursuing a career in Judaica librarianship.
ALA Spectrum Scholarship
The American Library Association (ALA) offers the Spectrum Scholarship to encourage diversity in librarianship. Since its inception, over 415 students from traditionally underrepresented groups have received scholarships, leadership training, professional networking, and mentoring in order to build a diverse pool of talented and trained individuals reflective of the populations served by all libraries. The scholarship includes $5,000 towards tuition in addition to various ALA member benefits.
ALA Black Caucus E. J. Josey Scholarship
The ALA’s Black Caucus awards two unrestricted grants of $2,000 to African American students enrolled in or accepted by MLIS programs accredited by ALA. Students must be also be citizens of the United States or Canada. Applicants submit essays on a topic determined annually by the sponsoring organization. Students must submit an essay that addresses a specific topic (updated yearly) with the winning essay announced at the Midwinter Meeting of ALA.
ALA Century Scholarship
The American Library Association’s Century Scholarship is an annual scholarship of $2,500 that funds services or accommodation for a library school student(s) with disabilities admitted to an ALA-accredited library school. The scholarship will fund services or accommodations that are either not provided by law or otherwise by the university that will enable the student or students to successfully complete the course of study for a Master’s in Library Science and become a library or information studies professional.
AILA Virginia Matthews Memorial Scholarship
The purpose of the American Indian Library Association (AILA) Virginia Mathews Memorial Scholarship shall be to provide tuition to an American Indian individual who lives and works in the American Indian community, and who is enrolled, or has been accepted and will enroll, in a master’s degree program at a university with a library and/or information sciences program accredited by the American Library Association. AILA will offer at least $1000 in library school scholarships annually. In 2015, AILA offered one $4000 scholarship.