The American Library Association (ALA) is committed to promoting and advancing the librarian profession. To demonstrate this commitment, the ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master's degree in school library media program that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited unit. There is the ALA Office of Accreditation's website for a list of ALA-Accredited programs.
(http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/education/accreditedprograms/directory/pdf/lis_dir_20082009.pdf) The American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) website is also there for the list of Nationally Recognized NCATE-AASL Reviewed & Approved School Library Media Education Programs
The scholarship process is open annually from October - March. Applications and reference forms (which must be submitted on-line) are available during that time period. Instructions and general information remain available year round.
Before starting, the applicant should carefully review the requirements in each category for the scholarships to which they are applying. Then complete the online application. It is only necessary to complete ONE online application regardless of the number of scholarships one applies for. The applicants may apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible for by checking the appropriate boxes on the application form.
The following items are required for all scholarship applications. They cautioned to check the requirements of the specific scholarship for which the candidates are applying because they may need to mail additional documents.
Required.--------- Completed online application (which includes a personal statement).
Required----------- Completed references (only references on the official online form will be accepted). A total of three references must be submitted. Applicants will be prompted to indicate their professional references within the online application.
Required.------------ Official academic transcripts from institutions where an apploicnt received their bachelors degree. These can be submitted directly from the institution, or mailed in the unopened envelope as received from the degree-granting institutions along with any other materials the candidate may need to submit. Only official (sealed) copies will be accepted. All items must be received in the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse by March 1st to be considered.
The mailing address is: ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.
Note: The completion of the application is the responsibility of the applicant.
Three major factors are considered in awarding these scholarships:
a) Academic excellence;
b) Leadership; and
c) Evidence of commitment to a career in librarianship.
In case of any other query concerns about the application process, candidates can contact the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4279 or scholarships@ala.org.
Recipients will be contacted by phone after June 1st. All other applicants will be notified by mail after July 1st.
PLEASE NOTE: The scholarship application and the reference forms are both online submissions. The scholarship application and reference forms will be available until March 1, 2009.
For Online Application
Three major factors are considered in awarding these scholarships:
a) Academic excellence;
b) Leadership; and
c) Evidence of commitment to a career in librarianship.
In case of any other query concerns about the application process, candidates can contact the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4279 or scholarships@ala.org.
Recipients will be contacted by phone after June 1st. All other applicants will be notified by mail after July 1st.
PLEASE NOTE: The scholarship application and the reference forms are both online submissions. The scholarship application and reference forms will be available until March 1, 2009.
For Online Application
