Grants available for future librarians
Love books? If you are interested in applying for a grant to get a master’s degree in library science, Laura Bush can help you.
Well, maybe not the first lady herself, but the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant program, which began in 2003 to recruit librarians.
According to School Library Journal, proposals from libraries, archives, and library agencies, associations, and consortia are solicited. Categories of funding include doctoral programs in library and information science; master’s programs in library and information science; research about library and information science as a profession; pre-professional programs to interest future professionals in library and information science as a career; programs to build institutional capacity in graduate schools of library and information science by developing or enhancing programs; and continuing education for library and archives staff.
The application deadline is Dec. 15.
For more info: Kevin Cherry, senior program officer, at 202-653-4662, email kcherry@imls.gov; Chuck Thomas, senior program officer, at 202-653-4663; email cthomas@imls.gov; or Karmen Bisher, program specialist, at 202-653-4664, email kbisher@imls.gov.
www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/21CenturyLibrarian.shtm
I sent a message to Kevin Cherry and he promptly returned my email. Turns out, their funding is for the institutions, not individuals seeking the degree. I inquired about which Missouri programs participate but didn’t get any information about that. Locally, the only higher education institution I know about in the St. Louis region that offers a Library Media Specialist degree is Lindenwood, and you have to be a certified teacher to qualify. Are you aware of any other local school that offers masters degrees in Library Science?
Sugaree, thanks for your note. You are right, the application has to come from institutions, not individuals. As it says above, “proposals from libraries, archives, and library agencies, associations, and consortia are solicited.”
I talked to Chuck Thomas to clarify: he says applications that seek to help a wide audience have the best prospects. I.e. a school district that wants to help pay for continuing education for staff or a consortium of libraries that wants to fund or help fund continuing ed, master’s programs, etc. for a number of staff members.
The University of Missouri at Columbia offers a master’s in library science degree. Many schools offer MLS degrees that can be obtained online, Chuck Thomas said. (Don’t know if Mizzou is one of them. Check its website or go to http://www.ala.org for more info on library education. Thomas also said he can give feedback on abstracts for the application.)
So although individual book lovers cannot apply for the grants, if they work at schools or libraries (or some other associations) they might ask the management if it might seek money to help fund continuing education or one of the other categories covered. In other words, if staff shows interest, maybe the ol’ boss will help out by asking for the dough!
If schools, county-wide or city-wide libraries or consortia of libraries want to apply for money to help existing staff or future staff, it sounds like they may very well qualify.
Other groups may also qualify: just call one of the numbers above in the posting. Good luck!