A number of current and incoming students in the iSchool’s MLIS program have been awarded generous scholarships by local libraries and organizations promoting the future of librarianship.

A number of current and incoming San José State University (SJSU) School of Information (iSchool) graduate students have been awarded generous scholarships by local libraries and organizations promoting the future of librarianship. These scholarships help future information professionals earn their Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), which will prepare them to contribute to the well-being of our global communities.

Carina Langstraat, who will begin the MLIS program at the SJSU iSchool in fall 2015, has been awarded a $1,000 Cynthia Lord Harrison Library Scholarship by the Bainbridge Public Library on Bainbridge Island in Washington. Langstraat, who was also awarded an iSchool Director’s Scholarship for Excellence, told local paper Bainbridge Island Review that the staff at the local library provided her with both support and encouragement in her exciting new endeavor. “I’ve always thought of librarians as being superheroes,” she added.  “[They are] defenders of intellectual freedom, providers of powerful information, and passionate community builders.”

Since 2002, Bergen County Cooperative Library Services (BCCLS) in New Jersey has been awarding BCCLS scholarships each year to library school students pursuing an MLIS degree. This year, a record five students at the SJSU iSchool working for BCCLS were chosen to receive these scholarships, many of which are named for community members and BCCLS employees. Kristin Rasczyk of the Rutherford Public Library was awarded a BCCLS scholarship, and Brittin Clark of the Ridgewood Public Library was awarded a Robert W. White Scholarship. Lauren Klein of the Emerson Public Library was awarded a Brian DeSantis Memorial Scholarship, and Deborah Tarabocchia of the Paramus Public Library was awarded a Mary Lou Abrams Memorial Scholarship. Denise Lester of the Haworth Public Library was awarded a BCCLS Trustee Scholarship. 

The Washington Education Association (WEA) also offers up to five $1,000 WEA-Retired Scholarships each year to WEA members seeking to enhance their skills in a particular area of education. SJSU iSchool student Jodie Crater of Lake Quinault School District was selected for one of the organization’s 2015 scholarships.

Scholarships help students offset the cost of their studies and allow them to focus more of their attention on developing the skills and strategies that are essential to the future of libraries. In addition to these local scholarships, the SJSU iSchool awards several scholarships every year. All donations to the iSchool are used to fund student scholarships.