AkLA Handbook Section VI:4
Scholarship

Updated: Monday, 08-May-2006 16:57:52 MDT

• Section VI:4 Scholarship Fund Procedures
• Calendar
• Guidelines
• Application Form
• Back to the Handbook

Revised September 24, 1993

Section VI: 4

Committee
The Scholarship Committee shall consist of the President of the Alaska Library Association, the Associations chair of the Continuing Education Committee, and the Alaska State Library Coordinator assigned the responsibilities of coordinating education activities.

It is the responsibility of the committee or its designee to distribute publicity about the scholarship, to distribute application forms and instructions, and to select the recipient(s). More than one scholarship may be granted if sufficient funding is available to meet the financial needs of the recipients.

Forms and Instructions
The application form is to be accompanied by:

• Current transcript;
• Resume;
• Listing of honors, awards, or recognition of accomplishments, if not included in the resume; and
• Listing of extra-curricular activities.

The above and three letters of recommendation from other than a relative, one of which must be a librarian, are to be mailed to the State Library Coordinator by the deadline date.

Granting of the award is subject to acceptance by and enrollment in an ALA accredited Graduate School of Library and Information Science.

Funding
The intent is to establish an endowment to which tax deductible contributions can be made, and from which the proceeds will assure the continuation of the scholarship program. In years when there is no recipient, the funds will cumulate in the scholarship fund for a future award.

Scholarship funding may derive from several sources:

1. an annual fund commitment from the Alaska Library Association and/or its divisions
2. contributions included with membership dues;
3. contributions included with Conference Registration fees;
4. individual contributions throughout the year, and
5. memorial and corporate gifts and donations

Calendar for Scholarship Awards

March:

• Continuing Education Committee reviews and revises announcements, forms, and procedures for the scholarship award.

August:

• Duplication of flyers, announcements, forms, etc.
• Distribution of publicity, forms, and instructions to: AkLA publications, e.g. Puffin, Newspoke;
• Academic Advisers in the University of Alaska system;
• Public Library and School District Personnel Officers;
• University and Community College Libraries in Alaska;
• University of Alaska Schools of Education in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.

January 15:

• Deadline for applications and letters of recommendation to be received by the chair of the Scholarship Committee.

January 31:

• Duplication and distribution of applications and letters of recommendation to each member of the Scholarship Committee.

February 15:

• Deadline for awarding scholarship(s) and notifying the applicants(s). Name(s) of the recipient(s) is sent to the AkLA President
• The AkLA President either mails the check(s) to the recipient(s) or notifies the recipient(s) that the check(s) will be awarded at the AkLA conference if the recipient(s) can attend.

March:

• The AkLA President announces the recipient of the scholarship during the AkLA Conference. If possible, the recipient will be a guest of AkLA at the conference, with registration fees waived or refunded, per diem and transportation paid. Name of recipient will be announced in the April issue of Newspoke.

Scholarship Fund Guidelines

Purpose: The purpose of the AkLA scholarship program is to support the education of librarians for Alaska's libraries, particularly public and school libraries:

1. by providing financial assistance for worthy students pursuing a Graduate Degree in Library and Information Science;
2. with preference given to a person meeting the federal requirements of Alaska native ethnicity; and
3. to encourage graduates to return to Alaska to work in professional library positions.

Eligibility: An applicant must be an Alaskan resident who:

1. possesses a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university;
2. is eligible for acceptance, or is currently enrolled, in a Graduate Degree program in Library and Information Science in a university program accredited by the American Library Association;
3. is or will be a full-time student during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received; and
4. makes a commitment to work in an Alaska library for a minimum of one year after graduation as a paid employee or a volunteer, or for two semesters for one semester's financial assistance. (A scholarship recipient who fails to fulfill this commitment will be required to repay the money received.)

If the scholarship is not to be used within one calendar year of its receipt, it will be issued in more than one installment.

Amount: Varies, In 2001 the amount was $2,000 plus the interest which had accrued to the Scholarship Fund in the preceding year.

Criteria for Selection: An individual will be selected by a Scholarship Committee of AkLA based on the following criteria:

1. financial need;
2. demonstrated scholastic ability and writing skills;
3. applicant's response to an essay question regarding his/her professional goals and objectives in pursuing a Graduate Degree in Library and Information Science; and
4. strength of letters of recommendation. Three letters are required, at least one of which must be from a librarian.

Note: Preference will be given to an individual meeting the federal definition of Alaska Native ethnicity.

List of AkLA Scholarship Fund Award recipients - 1992-

List of AkLA Scholarship Grant recipients - 1970 - 1980