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Preparing Librarians for High-Needs Schools

Preparing Librarians for High-Needs Schools

Research, conducted by a team of researchers from Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Studies, indicates that students in schools that have certified librarians perform better on English/Language Arts tests than students in schools without certified librarians. Certified librarians are also more likely to provide students with materials that present more diverse points of view and that better support the curriculum than non-certified librarians.

However, since not all schools are mandated to employ certified librarians, many high-needs districts do not have these skilled professionals on staff to assist students and classroom teachers.

The School of Information Studies has developed a new Preparing Librarians for High-Needs Schools Scholarship program to help infuse energetic and skilled school media professionals into the high-needs school districts while supporting the highest caliber school media students.

Preparing Students for High-Needs Schools Scholarship recipients will receive financial support to cover one-third of their tuition costs. In exchange, those students will be required to complete their fieldwork (100 hours) and practica (300 hours) in high-needs districts, as designated by New York State.* Teachers with appropriate experience have an option for reduced practicum hours.

Program goals

  • Provide high-needs school districts with the talent and skills of iSchool school media students during their required fieldwork and practica experiences.
  • Attract and retain the best and brightest school media students through a one-third tuition scholarship.
  • Promote the value and impact of certified school media specialists in school districts across New York State.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for the scholarships, you must:
  • Apply and be accepted into the M.S. in Library and Information Science (LIS)-School Media Specialization program
  • If you already have an MLS or M.S. Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited program, you may also apply for this scholarship for the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in School Media. CAS students complete 21 credits of coursework and internship, and this scholarship will cover 7 of those credits.
  • Apply for the Scholarship by completing a 500-word essay in response to the following question:
    • What is your vision for your future library in either a rural or urban high-needs school?
  • Matriculate into the on-campus or online version of the M.S. LIS-School Media or CAS in School Media program.

Admission Information

In addition to submitting the scholarship application that describes your vision for your future library in a high-needs school, you will also need to fill out the graduate admission application, which details instructions on how to submit the following information:
  • Graduate admissions application
  • $75 application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume
  • Two letters of recommendation (Only one needed for CAS applicants)
  • GRE scores

Deadline Information

Scholarship applications received before March 1, 2012 will be given preference. Students must have an admission application submitted to be considered for the Preparing Librarians for High-Needs Schools Scholarship.

Submit Application

More Information

To request information packets about the scholarship or School Media programs, please fill out this information request form.

For all other inquiries, please contact:

Blythe Bennett
Assistant Director of School Media Program
School of Information Studies
babennet@syr.edu  
315-443-5445


* HIGH-NEEDS DISTRICTS:
Need/Resource Capacity (N/RC) Code: A code indicating to which of six Need/Resource Categories a district belongs. Districts are placed in an N/RC category based on their N/RC Index. The N/RC Index is a measure of a district’s ability to meet the needs of its students with local resources. The measure is calculated by dividing a district’s estimated poverty percentage by its Combined Wealth Ratio. The Need/Resource Categories are:
  1.  New York City Public Schools
  2. Large City Districts – Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers
  3. High Need Urban-Suburban Districts
  4. High Need Rural Districts
  5. Average Need Districts
  6. Low Need Districts
For a complete listing, download the spreadsheet.