Library School Scholarship Announced

The Northern New York Library Network has been awarded a grant through the New York State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services that will provide one or more member library staff with the opportunity to earn an MLS degree using grant funds to pay for tuition.

The successful candidate for this competitive scholarship must be employed at a Network member library, be a U.S. citizen, be eligible to enter an ALA-accredited library school, have fewer than 12 graduate credits to be applied toward the MLS degree, agree to graduate no later than December, 2007, work at a library or library system in New York State for at least two years after graduation, and contribute to state-wide and nation-wide librarian recruitment efforts.

Strong preference will be given to candidates from diverse backgrounds. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, race, color, gender, disability, and national origin.

Various needs have been identified by the Northern New York Library Network in areas of professional expertise within the region. They include copyright expertise, digitization, special collections, telecommunications, electronic publishing, metadata, and cataloging. Addressing these areas is a major thrust of the grant.

This is a competitive scholarship opportunity. Candidates are advised to contact Pam Ouimet at pouimet@nnyln.org to assure they will receive the appropriate application materials when they become available. At this time, it is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin formal studies in the summer of 2005.