Palmer School to Match ALA Scholarships
for Minorities
Program aimed at increasing minority representation in libraries
The Palmer School of Library and Information Science at the
C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, N.Y.,
will help increase the percentage of minority library students
nationwide by matching two Spectrum Scholarships from the American
Library Association (ALA). The two $5,000 awards will be reserved
for minority students attending the Palmer School during the
2000-2001 academic year.
The ALA will give a total of fifty $5,000 scholarships next
year to students attending an ALA recognized master's degree
program in library and information studies. The students come
from four ethnic groups which are underrepresented in the library
field: African American or African
Canadian, Asian or Pacific islander, Latino or Hispanic, and
Native people from the United States and Canada. Prospective
scholarship recipients must apply for an award by April 1, 2000.
"We at the Palmer School are committed to increasing
the number of minority librarians in our libraries," said
Michael Koenig, Ph.D., dean of the Palmer School. "If minority
library patrons are to take full advantage of all that libraries
have to offer, they must feel comfortable with their librarians."
The Palmer School has a long-standing interest in serving minorities.
In its course, "Librarianship for a Diverse Population,"
Palmer professors address the needs of multicultural populations
and groups with special interests or needs.
The Palmer School joins several library schools, organizations
and individuals who have financially supported the Spectrum program.
In addition to scholarships, the program seeks to bolster minority
representation in libraries by providing mentoring and leadership
training to future librarians. A national recruitment network
and a networking initiative for Spectrum scholars are being formed.
To apply for the Palmer School scholarships, students should
request an application from the Palmer School by contacting Mary
Westermann at (516) 299-2866 or email westerma@liu.edu,
or visit the American Library Association web site at www.ala.org/spectrum.
