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CHICAGO--Madison Leigh Comer has been selected to receive the 2024 Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship in Library and Information Technology ($3,000), sponsored by Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures and Baker & Taylor.

This scholarship is for master’s level study, with an emphasis on library technology and/or automation, at a library school program accredited by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app. Criteria for the Scholarship includes previous academic excellence, evidence of leadership potential, and a commitment to a career in library automation and information technology.

The Larew Scholarship Committee was impressed with Comer’s strong academic record and her work at the New London County Historical Society as both an Intern, and then as the Development Manager. As an intern, she assisted with archival, educational, research, develop, and outreach programs including exhibit building, curricula development, collection management, research assistance, membership outreach, fundraising events, and social media content. In her role as Development Manager, she wrote grant requests resulting in over $33,500 in funds; raised over $6,000 in sponsorship for annual fall fundraiser; produced the spring Annual Appeal letter doubling donations from the previous year; managed funding reports and updated contributor records. In this role, she also helped devise a strategic plan for digitizing the archive.

Comer studied abroad in Greece in 2022, and in 2023 she joined the College Year in Athens (CYA). She was invited to be the student representative on the planning committee for CYA’s new library and study center, requiring her input on the center’s architectural design, collaborative spaces, as well as programming such as academic service and inter-collegiate collaboration. In addition, she joined the CYA cohort of classics post-baccalaureate where she then worked as a library assistant. This role required tasks such as updating accessibility services, programming the CYA Library Week, digital cataloging, and working on a digital humanities project translating and archiving ancient monuments.

When notified she had won, Comer said, “I am delighted to be awarded this year’s Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship. This honorable award will immensely help in funding my education as an incoming graduate student in Simmons University’s Master of Library Science program. I look forward to building upon and expanding my skills and knowledge in the concentrations of digital humanities, archives, and cultural heritage informatics as I prepare to face challenges in the library and information science field as it continues to evolve.”

Members of the 2024 Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship Committee are: Jennifer Culley (Chair), Dale Poulter (Vice-Chair), Bethann Rea, Diana Silveira, Elizabeth Lightfoot, Jill Crane, and Joy DuBose.

About Core
Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy and learning. Core is a division of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app. Follow us on our , , or .

About Baker & Taylor
Founded in 1828, Baker & Taylor has a long and storied history serving libraries. As a leading supplier, the company is well known and trusted for carrying the materials libraries need while innovating and bringing unique digital and software products to customers worldwide. Backed by comprehensive logistics and unparalleled customer support, Baker & Taylor empowers libraries to enrich their collections, engage patrons, and nurture literacy and lifelong learning. Learn more at .