Scholarships

The Indiana Library Federation Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the availability of several scholarships to be awarded at the Federation's Annual Conference. The Federation endowment has two funds that exist to provide scholarships for librarian education and training.

The Esther Schlundt Memorial Scholarship Fund provides funding for two types of scholarships:
1) An applicant entering or currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate degree program in library and information science is eligilble for a scholarship award of up to $1,000.
2) An applicant entering or currently enrolled in an Indiana State Library-approved library certification program is eligible for up to an amount equal to tuition for a three-hour course at Indiana University's School of Library and Information Science.

The Sue Marsh Weller Memorial Scholarship Fund provides funding for at least one scholarship for applicants entering or currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited program of graduate study specializing in children's librarianship.

All scholarship recipients are chosen on the basis of (1) Interest in librarianship as a profession, (2) Personality and Character, (3) Academic record, (4) Economic need, and (5) References and/or a personal interview. Recipients must be legal residents of Indiana. Each must accept employment in an Indiana library within one year after completing his or her library education and must continue to work in an Indiana library for at least one year after accepting employment. If a recipient does not comply with these conditions, the scholarship must be repaid as a loan.

The AIME Scholarship Fund provides funding for at least one scholarship applicant entering or currently enrolled in a program to receive educational certification in the field of School Library Media Services. The AIME Scholarship Fund provides funding for:
1) An applicant currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate certification program for School Library Media Services.
2) The program of study must meet the current criteria as set by the Indiana Professional Standards Board.
3) An applicant is eligible for a scholarship award of up to $500.

All interested and eligible students, including media specialist students, are enouraged to apply for the appropriate scholarship. Applicants may use the form provided. Additional applications are available from the ILF office at 941 E. 86th Street, Suite 260, Indianapolis, IN 46240, Phone: (317) 257-2040, Fax: (317) 257-1389, E-mail: ilf@indy.net. The deadline for application is June 30th. All applications must be postmarked no later than this date.

Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants
You are responsible for making sure that the materials requested in the scholarship application are received by the Indiana Library Federation office by the posted deadline of June 30th. The following items are necessary for your application to be considered:
1) Three letters of recommendation are required. At least one recommendation must be from a librarian. All letters of recommendation should be of a professional nature. References from current or previous employers, library trustees, current or previous teachers or professors, or others who comment on your potential as a library professional are acceptable. The letters should comment on one or more of the following: a) your potential in the library profession; b) your employment performance; c) your participation in volunteer and community activities; d) your academic performance.
2) For masters candidates: a) a transcript or copy of official grade report for any library science courses already completed; b) transcripts of all undergraduate education; c) transcripts from other graduate work may be included, but are not required.
3) For public library certification candidates: a) a copy of the approved public library certification program; b) transcripts from undergraduate education and/or high school; c) transcript or copy of official grade report for any course already taken toward library certification.
4) For school library media candidates: a) a transcript for any education and/or library science courses already completed; b) a transcript for all undergraduate or graduate work completed; c) transcripts from high school may be included by candidates that have not yet completed any graduate or undergraduate work.
5) Former scholarship recipients are eligible to apply for additional funds.

Congratulations to our 2006 Scholarship Winners:

 

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Application Form

ILF Scholarships: a Call to Action