MS – LIBRARY SCHOLARSHIP 2010 – USA
Missouri State Library Scholarship 2010 in USA
About the MS:
Created by the legislature in 1965, the State Archives serves as the repository for state records of permanent historical value. Its holdings date from 1770 and include: executive, legislative, and judicial records; records of state departments and agencies; land records; military records; state publications; photographic collections; county and municipal records on microfilm; and manuscript and reference collections.
Detail:
The Missouri State Library Scholarship program is designed to encourage professional librarianship in Missouri’s libraries. Financial support for future librarians increases the professional workforce by encouraging individuals who might otherwise not have the resources for higher education. Scholarships are for students pursuing one of the following degree or certification programs:
1. Master’s degree in library science, or
2. School library media specialist certification, or
3. School library media specialist certification concurrent with a master’s degree in library science.
The scholarship covers the cost of tuition at a Missouri college or university. The maximum reimbursement rate for tuition is limited to the highest prevailing per credit hour fee charged by a Missouri college or university. As this fee is subject to fluctuation, the current tuition schedule is updated throughout the academic year. Scholarship applicants are encouraged to enroll full-time and must complete their studies within three (3) years of receiving an award. Scholarships are also available to applicants who may be part-time students or completing their coursework using distance-learning opportunities. In return for financial assistance, the State Library requires scholarship recipients to fulfill a work commitment equivalent to one month of work for every course funded. For example, if the State Library were to fund 10 courses of a student’s graduate education, a 10-month work commitment would be required. All scholarship recipients must secure a full-time professional position within six (6) months of graduation at a publically funded Missouri library.
Eligibility Requirements:
A candidate for the Missouri State Library Scholarship program must meet the following criteria:
1.Eligible candidates must be a current Missouri resident or currently employed in Missouri.
2.Eligible candidates must be formally admitted to an accredited college or university in Missouri at the time of application. Proof of admission to a library program must be submitted with your application.
o Students pursuing a master’s degree in library science must attend a graduate program accredited by the American Library Association. Currently, the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Information Science and Learning Technologies is the only graduate program accredited by the ALA for a master’s degree in library science in Missouri.
o Students pursuing a master’s degree for the purpose of school library media certification must attend a graduate program accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for school library media certification. Currently, the University of Central Missouri and the University of Missouri – Columbia have graduate programs in library science that meet school library certification requirements. All students pursuing school library media certification must have their initial or lifetime teacher’s certification prior to applying. Scholarship funds cannot be used toward a doctorate or specialist degree.
o Several other schools in Missouri offer programs to meet the requirements for school library media specialist certification. Eligible schools must have accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and approval by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for library media certification. Missouri schools accredited by NCATE may be found on their Web site at: http:// www.ncate.org/public/listofaccredinst.asp. Certification programs approved by DESE may be found on their Web site at: http://dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teached/ directory/. Eligible schools must appear on both lists.
Application Requirements
1. A complete, original application form and essay.
2. Official transcripts for all previous and current academic credit.
3. Three (3) reference letters from a variety of professional and/or personal references. Please, no more or less than three reference letters per applicant.
4. Proof of admission to an eligible library science or school library media specialist certification program.
5. Students pursuing school library media specialist certification must also provide a copy of their initial or lifetime teaching certification. Candidates with temporary teacher’s certification are ineligible for this award.
Selection Process
The Scholarship Review Committee will screen and evaluate applications, and forward recommendations to the State Librarian and the Secretary of State. The number of scholarships awarded may vary each year due to the number of applications received and the amount of funding available. The selection process takes approximately 12 -16 weeks.
Applicants are responsible for ascertaining whether the State Library has received all application materials including references and transcripts. The Scholarship Review Committee reserves the right not to consider incomplete applications. The Scholarship Review Committee may elect to conduct phone or personal interviews with finalists. Priority may be given to those applicants who are multilingual and to those who do not already hold a master’s degree in another area of study.
Post Award
The State Library will notify applicants of scholarship award. Recipients will receive a formal agreement package detailing the requirements of the scholarship award. This legally binding document must be signed by the recipient and returned to the State Library to activate the award process.
Once the State Library receives the signed agreement, the college or university will be notified of the scholarship and will be asked to indicate the scholarship amount as anticipated aid on the recipient’s account. Scholarship funds shall be paid directly to the college or university in which the recipient is enrolled (not to the recipient) and will only be disbursed if the student is enrolled after the final drop date for each class. The school shall then credit the recipient’s account with the amount awarded for the semester involved. As a result, the student may be financially responsible for his or her own account until final payment for the semester is processed.
Applications available in November 2010
Applications due in late February 2011
Contact:
Sarah Easley,
Continuing Education Consultant
sarah.easley@sos.mo.gov
(800) 325-0131, ext. 16
Source: http://www.sos.mo.gov/
