Core/OCLC Spectrum Scholarship in Library and Information Technology

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The Spectrum Scholarship Program actively recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and . The Core/OCLC Spectrum Scholarship in Library and Information Technology is designed to address the specific issue of under-representation of racially and ethnically diverse librarians within library technology.

This scholarship is for study in an Accredited Master of Library Science (MLS) program. Each scholar receives $5,000 from to combat the rising cost of graduate education, as well as $1,500 to attend the Spectrum Leadership Institute held during the Annual Conference. The application form is open October to February each year.

Benefits

Spectrum Scholars receive a number of benefits in addition to their scholarship funds, these include:

Complimentary one-year student membership to (includes a one-year subscription to American Libraries);
Free student admission to Annual Conference during the scholarship year;
Free attendance to the Spectrum Leadership Institute: a three-day institute that highlights cross-cultural models of leadership and features national library and community leaders;
Complimentary memberships to divisions and participating Round Tables and Affiliates during the scholarship year;
Formal and informal mentoring opportunities;
Opportunities for matching scholarships from participating library schools and other regional library associations;
Access to colleagues via an electronic discussion list, and various private and open online communities;
Posted information on job/internship/residency opportunities all over the country and in different types of libraries;
Networking with other Spectrum Scholars and library leaders;
Participation in a national library diversity initiative and the recognition merited by this distinction;
Invitations to present at forums, conferences, and institutes;
Opportunities to apply for travel grants to regional institutes and conferences.

Criteria

To be eligible for a Spectrum Scholarship, you should:

be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada;
identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern/North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander;
attend an in library and information studies or an
be enrolled in an accredited program and begin no later than September 1 or fall semester;
have full- or part-time status;
plan to maintain a minimum course load of two classes per semester while receiving your scholarship funds.

How to Apply

To submit an application for a Spectrum Scholarship, the following items are required:

Completed online application (which includes a personal statement);
Three professional references (only references on the official online form will be accepted). You will be prompted to indicate your professional references within the online application;
Official academic transcripts from the institution where you received your bachelor’s degree. If you are currently enrolled in an MLIS program or an AASL-recognized School Library Media Program, you will need to send a transcript from your current institution, as well. Only official (sealed) copies will be accepted.

The reviews the applications and selects the scholarship winner.

. All applications, references, transcripts, and other documents must be received no later than March 1, for that year's scholarship.