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LIS Scholarships

All students admitted to the masters degree in library and information science (LIS) who submit a resume will be considered for the following internal awards and scholarships. Internal funding is limited and is highly competitive. The School of Information Studies encourages all students to pursue both internal and external funding opportunities.


Internal Awards and Scholarships

School of Information Studies Endowed Graduate Assistantships

Students who exemplify excellence may be considered for one of three named graduate assistantships designated specifically for LIS students in the School of Information Studies. Graduate assistants are selected based on superior qualifications and references. The award provides full tuition for the academic year in addition to a yearly stipend. Because the scholars are studying full-time, they may hold no other appointment except, in some cases, an assistantship or internship related to the program of study.

To apply for a graduate assistantship in library and information science, students should submit applications for admission to the University and the required credentials in the usual manner, indicating interest in this award by checking the appropriate box on the application form.

  • Gaylord Library School Graduate Assistantship
    - $12,000 stipend paid out as $6,000 per semester over fall and spring semesters.  Awardees will be required to participate in research, teaching, or administrative assistance for 20 hours a week as part of their award.
    - 24 tuition credits per year
  • Jean Goodrich Library Science Leadership Graduate Assistantship
    - $18,000 stipend paid out as $6,000 per semester over fall, spring, and summer. Awardees will be required to participate in research, teaching, or administrative assistance for 20 hours a week as part of their award.
    - 24 tuition credits per year.
  • Dorothy E. Rowland Library Science Graduate Assistantship
    - $12,000 stipend paid out as $6,000 per semester fall and spring. Awardees will be required to participate in research, teaching, or administrative assistance for 20 hours a week as part of their award.
    - 24 tuition credits per year.

Awards for Library and Information Science Students

The School of Information Studies considers LIS students for the following awards based on academic merit:

  • Ronnie Kasowitz Memorial Scholarship - $2,000
  • Muriel J. Rossman Scholarship - $1,500
  • Ellen G. Shay Library Science Scholarship - $1,000
  • Fay and Robert Taylor Scholarship partial scholarship and financial assistance
  • Van Hoesen Loan Fund
  • Marta Dosa Award - 3 credits (Application)

Graduate Assistance for Students in the Distance Education Program

Each year, the School of Information Studies awards one Helen Benning Regnier Scholarship. This merit-based, full-tuition scholarship is given to a distance learning student pursuing a master's degree in library and information science.

The Librarianship into the Future Award

The School of Information Studies seeks to engage with potential and existing students, alumni, and other iSchool community members in innovative ways, just as libraries in the future must reach out to their patrons in imaginative ways. We aspire to be a leader in the use of the social web, and therefore, we would like to encourage students interested in being prominent in this space to join us at Syracuse. To do this, we have established the Librarianship into the Future Scholarship. This award will be offered for the first time in 2009. This award will cover 50 percent of scholarship recipients’ tuition expenses toward their MSLIS degree at the Syracuse.


External Awards and Scholarships

In addition to awards provided by the school and the University, admitted LIS students are encouraged to apply for financial support from an external source such as the sampling listed below.

AALL (American Association of Law Libraries) Scholarships

Profile:
The American Association of Law Libraries awards scholarships in significant amounts each year in the categories listed below to assist individuals in achieving their goal of becoming a law librarian. Minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.

  • AALL Educational Scholarships: (descriptions copied from AALL website)
  • Library Degree for Non-Law School Graduates (application form): Awarded to a college graduate with meaningful law library experience who is a degree candidate in an accredited library school with the intention of having a career as a law librarian. Preference is given to members of AALL, but scholarships are not restricted to members. Preference is given to applicants working for degrees with emphasis on courses in law librarianship. Evidence of financial need must be submitted.
  • Library School Graduates Seeking A Non-Law Degree (application form): Awarded to library school graduates who are degree candidates in an area, other than law, which will be beneficial to the development of a professional career in law librarianship and who intend to have a career as a law librarian. Scholarship restricted to members of AALL. Evidence of financial need must be submitted.
  • Law Librarians in Continuing Education Courses (application form): Awarded to law librarians with a degree from an accredited library or law school who are registrants in continuing education courses related to law librarianship.
  • Grants from many other AALL regional chapters or Special Interest Section Sponsored Grants are also available. Please refer to this link on the AALL website (http://www.aallnet.org/committee/grants/grants.asp)

General Contact:
The American Association of Law Libraries
53 W. Jackson, Suite 940
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 939-4764
Fax: (312) 431-1097

Contact:
Steven Oberhoffer
Membership Coordinator
Phone: (312) 939-4764
Fax: (312) 431-1097
Email: soberhoffer@aall.org

Deadlines:

  • April 1st for Library Degree for Non-Law School Graduates & Library School Graduates Seeking A Non-Law Degree scholarships
  • February 1st, April 1st, October 1st for Law Librarians in Continuing Education Courses scholarship

ALA (American Library Association) Scholarship Program

Profile: ALA offers more than $300,000 worth of scholarships for Library and Information Studies students each year. These scholarships include:

Application:
The scholarship process is open annually from September - March. Applications and reference forms (which must be submitted on-line) are available during that time period. Instructions and general information remain available year round at the ALA Scholarships Web site.

Contact:
ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse 
1-800-545-2433 ext. 4277 
scholarships@ala.org

Deadline:
March 1

Dialogue Graduate Education Program - Roger K. Summit Scholarship

Profile:
The Roger K. Summit Scholarship, awarded annually by Dialog, was established to honor Dr. Roger K. Summit, the founder of Dialog, for his outstanding contributions to the field of information science.

Two regional awards are made, one for North America and one for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Applicants must be students who are currently enrolled in a library and information science program within the award region. The scholarship recipient, who must have demonstrated outstanding interest or performance in electronic information services, is selected based upon the following criteria:

  • Academic achievement
  • Demonstrated interest in electronic information services, based on course work, research and experience
  • Proficiency on Dialog online services
  • Faculty recommendations

Contact:
Betty Jo Hebberd
Betty.Jo.Hibberd@thomson.com

Application:
The 2006 scholarship application can be found here.
The 2006 scholarship test can be found here.

Deadline:
October 20, 2006

International Research & Exchanges Board Grants

Profile:
Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO): The Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Program (IARO) provides fellowships to professionals with terminal degrees, master's students, and pre-doctoral and postdoctoral scholars and from the United States for individual long-term policy-relevant research in Europe and Eurasia. Limited funding is available for pre-doctoral humanities scholars. IREX offers grants of 1-3 months for policy-relevant research at the master's level. (MLIS program)

Application: Application materials are available at this link http://www.irex.org/programs/iaro/application.asp

Contact:
For more information, contact: iaro@irex.org

Deadline: Usually in late October

Library of Congress

Profile:
Junior Fellows Program is a paid-intern scholarship program. Fellows, working with primary source materials, will assist selected divisions in fulfilling their mission to reduce the arrearage by organizing and documenting archival collections, producing finding aids and bibliographic records, preparing materials for preservation and service, and doing bibliographical research; and, contribute to the Library's efforts to digitize its historical collections.  Fellowships, lasting two to three months, are available in the summer, according to the needs and schedule of the Library. Fellowships begin in either May or June, depending upon the availability of the selected fellow. Fellows work full time (40 hours per week).  Fellows will be paid a taxable stipend of $300 per week. Academic credit for the fellowship work is at the discretion of the educational institution.

Requirements:
  • applicants must be either enrolled in an ongoing academic program at an accredited college or university at the junior or senior undergraduate level, or at the graduate level, or have completed their degree since August 2003
  • Non-US citizens are welcomed to apply -- proper work visas must be obtained by successful applicants prior to reporting to the Library

Application: Application materials are available at this link

Contact: Junior Fellows Program Coordinator
Library of Congress
Library Services, Room LM-642
Washington, DC 20540-4600

Email: jrfell@loc.gov

Phone: 202-707-5330

Fax: 202-707-6269

Deadline: March 1 - April 16 (received by, not postmark) Note:   Any applications received before March 1 will not be considered

Medical Library Association

Profile:

Contact: Lisa C. Fried Phone: (312) 419-9094 x28

Deadlines:

New York Library Association (NYLA)- Dewey Scholarship

Profile:
The NYLA-Dewey Scholarship provides financial assistance to enable an interested and deserving student to pursue a Master’s Degree in Library Science at an ALA-accredited library school in New York State.

The recipient of this award will receive $1500 to cover tuition costs and related expenses. In addition, the winner will receive a complimentary one-year student membership in NYLA and free attendance at the first NYLA Annual Conference to be held after the awarding of the scholarship.

Application:
The application form can be found here. Completed applications must be mailed to: New York LIbrary Association 252 Hudson Ave. Albany, NY 12210-1802 ATTN: NYLA-Dewey Scholarship

Contact:
(800) 252-NYLA email: membership@nyla.org

Deadline:
September 22, 2006

Special Libraries Association

Profile:
This program consists of awards for graduate study leading to a master's degree, graduate study leading to a Ph.D., and for post-M.L.S. study.

Applications deadlines, and contact persons vary for each scholarship. Please view each award's Web site for further information.

Maxine Davis G'73
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Founder, Every Life is a Story

The school floored me with the idea that information could be anywhere, not just in a library. I’ll always feel that my intellectual life started at the School of Information Studies.
Tim O'Shea '98, G'00
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Senior manager of distribution, Public Radio International

Public radio presents a unique voice and connection to the listener. The goal is to find ways for public broadcasters to adapt to these opportunities while maintaining such core values as substance, credibility, and service. The challenge with emerging technology is to maintain these qualities.
Jean Armour Polly '74, G'75
Liverpool, N.Y.
Assistant library director, Liverpool Public Library

The Internet has changed the way people approach information and libraries; the iSchool’s visionary approach gives graduates the skills and savvy they need to excel in the 24/7 infosphere we have in the twenty-first century.
Kelebogile Motlaleng '03
Gaborone, Botswana
Webmaster, African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership

I hope I can somehow save a life by getting information out to the people about our programs for free condoms, testing, and anti-retroviral therapy. We interact with a whole bunch of people who tell us what they need, and we do our best to help them.
Dan Umstead G'90
Syracuse, NY
Director/film consultant, First Armorers

I'm working to preserve the Oneida Nation history and culture; information that's available primarily through oral traditions. It may not be in books or manuscripts, but it's still information, and it provides people with the means of access to a rich culture and history that in many cases has been forgotten.
Morgan A. Ott '03, G'04
Boca Raton, Florida
Information architect, Kaplan University

Morgan is an information architect, developing front-end prototypes to give both the users and the business a full understanding of how the system will facilitate business goals, user-tasks, and functionality.