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Scholarships for the Recruitment & Advocacy of Under-Represented Groups
LLA – DIG Ollie H. Burns Scholarship: Amount Varies
Supported by the Diversity Interest Group of the Louisiana Library Association, the recipient of this scholarship
must be a full-time or part-time graduate student at LSU enrolled in the School of Library & Information
Science. First preference shall be given to minority students including African American, Hispanic, Native
American, and Asian Pacific Islander. Deadline: February 1 each year
ASCLA Century Scholarship: $2,500
http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaawards/asclacentury
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.
Spectrum Scholarships: $5000
http://www.ala.org/spectrum
ALA’s national diversity and recruitment effort designed to address the specific issue of under-representation of
critically needed ethnic librarians within the profession. For American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black/African
American, Latino/Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders. $5,000 or $1,500 in professional development
opportunities.
E.J. Josey Scholarship: $2,000
http://www.bcala.org/awards/joseyapps.htm
Sponsored by the Black Caucus (BCALA) of the ALA. Application deadline is December 1.
REFORMA Scholarship: $1,500
http://www.reforma.org/content.asp?pl=7&sl=47&contentid=47
Louisiana Library Association
Diversity Interest Group
Louisiana State University
School of Library & Information Science

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Any current or newly entering graduate library school student [M.L.S. or Ph.D.] may apply for these
scholarships. Must provide proof of enrollment to an accredited library school. Full-time status is not a
requirement. The REFORMA Scholarship provides financial assistance to encourage and enable Latinos and/or
Spanish speakers to pursue or advance a career in Library and Information Science. Application deadline is
March 15.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund: $1000-$3000 range
http://www.hsf.net
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers scholarships on a competitive basis for community college, four-year
college, and graduate students of Hispanic heritage. Awards generally range from $1,000 to $3,000. To be
eligible, students must: be of Hispanic heritage (one parent must be fully Hispanic or both parents must be half
Hispanic); be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident
(with permanent resident card); have earned at least 15 undergraduate college credits in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (3.7 on a 5 point scale); and be attending an
accredited U.S. college full-time. Applications are available at the program's Web site (above) or by sending a
business size, self-addressed envelope to the program's offices. Contact: College Scholarship Program
Application Hispanic Scholarship Fund, One Sansome Street, Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94104.
ARL’s Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce: $10,000
http://www.arl.org/leadership-recruitment/diversity-recruitment/initiative-to-recruit-a-
diverse-workforce-irdw
IRDW has an emphasis on research library leadership. Those accepted into the program receive a $10,000
stipend over two years and $2,500 for professional development, a paid membership to ARL, and a two-day
leadership institute. There have been 108 ARL Diversity Fellows so far.
The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship: $3500
http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Resources/scholarships/George-A-Strait-
Minority-Scholarship
Awarded annually to college graduates with law library experience who are members of a minority group as
defined by current U.S. government guidelines and are degree candidates in accredited library or law schools.
Preference will be given to individuals with previous service to, or interest in, law librarianship. Applicants must
show evidence of financial need.
American Library Association (ALA) Scholarships
ALA provides more than $300,000 per year in scholarships available from its various divisions and
affiliates. This link brings you to all of the ALA scholarships available for students in MLIS programs.
Yearly deadline is March 1st. http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/scholarships
ALA General Scholarships:
David H. Clift Scholarship: $3,000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/david-h-clift-
scholarship
Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship: $5,000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/christopher-
hoyert-scholarship

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Miriam L. Hornback Scholarship: $3000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/miriam-l-
hornback-scholarship
ALA Scholarships for Students Interested in Library Youth Services:
Mary V. Gaver Scholarship: $3,000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/mary-v-gaver-
scholarship
Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarship: $7,000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/bound-
stay-bound-books-scholarship-0
Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship (2): $6,000 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/frederic-g-
melcher-scholarship-0
ALA Library Automation Technologies:
http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/scholarships/specialty/automationtech
LITA/Larew Memorial Scholarship in Library and Information Technology: $3,000
LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship: $2,500
LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship: $3,000
ALA Federal Librarianship Scholarships
Cicely Phippen Marks Scholarship: $1500 http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/cicely-phippen-
marks-scholarship
Law, Medical, & Special Library Scholarships
Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) an affiliate of the ALA
LITA division has several awards and scholarships
American Association of Law Librarians
AALL & West Group George A. Strait Minority Scholarship Endowment
AALL also offers general scholarships for students with or without Law Degrees interested in
pursuing Graduate Degrees in Library Science
Association of Research Libraries (ARL) promotes careers in academic and
research libraries. ARL Scholarship awards up to $10, 000, in addition to other initiatives.
ARL Residency & Internships programs available in academic and research
libraries. (database covers internships available at academic libraries throughout the nation)

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http://residencies.arl.org/ http://www.arl.org/leadership/rllf/
Medical Library Association (MLA) promotes medical librarianship.
MLA Scholarship for Minority Students who wish to study health sciences. Awards up to
$5,000.
http://www.mlanet.org/awards/grants/index.html
http://www.mlanet.org/awards/grants/minstud.html
National Library of Medicine
Internships (Fellowships) available at the National Library of Medicine.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/training/associate/index.html
Special Libraries Association (SLA) promotes career in all types of agencies including government
agencies, management, consulting firms, etc. (http//:www.sla.org). Be sure to check the different
divisions for scholarship and travel award opportunities.
SLA Affirmative Action Scholarship awards up to $6,000.
http://www.sla.org/?s=scholarships
Louisiana Library Association (LLA) awards scholarships of $3,000 to Louisiana students
as financial assistance during their full-time study toward the Master’s Degree in Library Science at
Louisiana State University (LSU) SLIS.
http://www.llaonline.org/as/ Application Deadline: May 1st
of each academic year.
The Mary Moore Mitchell Scholarship is funded by a donation from Howard J. Ekblad, President
of the Library Interiors, Inc. of Metairie Louisiana.
The Educational Foundation of the Trustees Section of the Louisiana Library Association was
established in 1985. The Trustees Educational Foundation Award is available to qualified
graduate students attending the Louisiana State University School of Library and Information
Science.
Travel Awards
Thousands of dollars in travel awards are available to members and students from professional
organizations. These are made in part through the generosity of vendors and other benefactors. For
the most part, the deadline for applying for these travel grants is December 1. However, you should
check the webpage of each association for specific deadlines and not just rely on the listing below.
Thomson Financial Student Travel Award (BRASS)
$1,000 cash award given to a student enrolled in an ALA accredited master’s degree program to
attend the ALA Annual Conference and a one-year membership in the Business Reference and
Services Section (BRASS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). The applicant
should have demonstrated interest in a career as a business reference librarian; the award is

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administered by RUSA. Deadline: December 1.
Dun & Bradstreet Public Librarian Support Award
Annual award of $1,000 to support the attendance at Annual Conference of a public librarian who
has performed outstanding business reference service and who requires financial assistance to attend
the ALA Annual Conference, presented by the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of
the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). Deadline: December 1.
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=awards&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisp
lay.cfm&ContentID=136867
SAGE Support Staff Travel Grant
Library Support Staff Travel Grants (six to be awarded) make it possible for library support staff to
attend the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. The travel grants cover the
expense of attending the conference, including airfare, three nights’ lodging, and conference
registration; up to $1,000 for each recipient. Deadline: November 30.
http://www.ala.org/alcts/awards/grants/supptstafftrav
First Step Award
A Wiley Professional Development Grant
This Wiley Professional Development Grant is intended to provide librarians new to the serials field
with the opportunity to broaden their perspective and to encourage professional development in
ALA Conference and participation in Serials Section activities. The $1,500, donated by John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., cash award is applicable toward round trip transportation, lodging, registration fees, etc.
Eligible applicants may apply more than once. Deadline: December 1.
http://www.ala.org/alcts/awards/grants/firststep
The Demco New Leaders Travel Grant
The purpose of these grants is to enhance the professional development and improve the expertise
of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional
development activities. This grant has been established to enable PLA Members new to the
profession and who have not had the opportunity to attend a major PLA Continuing Education
Event in the last five years to do so. Eligible events include PLA Preconferences, held in
conjunction with ALA Annual Conferences. A travel grant of up to $1,500 per applicant for a total
not to exceed $5,000 per year and a plaque. Deadline: December 3; online submission.
http://www.ala.org/pla/awards/demconewleadersgrant
3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant Application
The purpose of the 3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant is to encourage professional
development and participation by new ALA members in national ALA and New Members Round
Table activities. Applicants must be personal ALA/NMRT members who are working within the
territorial United States. The grant will help finance attendance at the ALA Annual Conference and
covers round trip airfare, lodging, conference registration fees and some incidental expenses.
Deadline: March 31.
http://www.ala.org/nmrt/initiatives/applyforfunds/3mawardinformation
AASL Frances Henne Award

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Sponsored by Greenwood Publishing Group, the $1,250 award recognizes a school library media
specialist with five years or less experience who demonstrates leadership qualities with students,
teachers and administrators, to attend an AASL conference or ALA Annual Conference for the first
time. Applicants must be AASL personal members. The application deadline is February 1.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslawards/franceshenneawd/aaslfranceshenne
ACRL/DLS Haworth Press Distance Learning Librarian Conference Sponsorship Award
This conference sponsorship award honors any individual ACRL member working in the field of, or
contributing to the success of distance learning librarianship or related library service in higher
education. An Award of $1,200 to help defray the costs of travel to and participation in the ALA
Annual Meeting and a citation plaque sponsored by Haworth Press is offered.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/awards/achievementawards/dlsaward
ALTA/GALE Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant
The ALTA/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant enables public library trustees to attend
the ALA Annual Conference. A grant of $750 each is warded annually to two public library trustees
who have demonstrated qualitative interests and efforts in supportive service of the local public
library. Contact ALTA office for deadlines.
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=grantfellowship&template=/ContentManagement/Con
tentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=118048
Baker and Taylor/YALSA Conference Grants
This grant is funded by the Baker and Taylor Company. The two grants of $1,000 each are awarded
to librarians who work directly with young adults in a public or school library to enable them to
attend the Annual Conference for the first time. Applications must be received in the YALSA office
by December 1.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/awardsandgrants/bakertayloryalsa
Special Libraries Association (www.sla.org) offers more than $30,000 in scholarships and grants,
excluding the numerous awards from the chapter and division awards council.
Be sure to double-check the home page of different organizations for deadlines. Also check the
annual Library and Book Trade Almanac scholarship (p. 371) section for other types of awards,
scholarships, and honors.
Updated: 10/04/2013