Membership / Apply for the CARLI Scholarship

Apply for the CARLI Scholarship

Purpose

The CARLI Scholarship provides financial assistance to current employees of CARLI Governing Member Libraries pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Scholarships may be awarded for both on-campus and/or distance education programs.

Applicant eligibility

Applicants must be employed by a CARLI Governing Member Library at the time of application. Preference is given to full-time employees, but part-time and student employees may also apply. The applicant must also be currently enrolled or accepted, and will be a student in a graduate school program during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received. First-time recipients are given preference, but students may apply for and be awarded the scholarship more than once. Candidates awarded the scholarship must supply proof of admission or enrollment to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before the scholarship is disbursed. Applications are due on June 1, 2024.

Amount

Amount for the 2024-2025 academic year (August 2024–May 2025) will be a minimum of $1,000.

Based on available funding and application review, CARLI reserves the right to increase or decrease the award amount, and/or award multiple scholarships or no scholarships for any academic year.

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Scholarship Recipients

Criteria for selection

An individual will be selected by the CARLI Scholarship Committee based on the following criteria:

  1. Applicant’s response to a personal essay question regarding his/her professional goals and objectives in pursuing a library career that demonstrates a commitment to the profession.
  2. Strength of references. Three CARLI Scholarship Reference Forms are required, at least one of which must be from a librarian at the applicant’s library. References may include additional comments or letters.

How to apply

Applicant must complete and submit:

Applicant must attach and submit:

  • Personal essay (two page limit)
  • Current resume (two page limit)
  • Proof of acceptance or enrollment to UIUC M.S. in Library and Information Science program
    • New students: An acceptance notification qualifies as proof
    • Ongoing students: A Degree Auditing Reporting System (DARS) report qualifies as proof
    • New and ongoing students: A class schedule or registration confirmation for the Fall Semester qualifies as proof

Three references, not the applicant, must each complete and submit:

A complete application packet (i.e., the application form, essay, resume, proof of enrollment/acceptance, and three references) must be received by June 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. CT. The scholarship recipient will be notified by July 6, 2024.

Scholarship Committee Members

Committee members are appointed annually by the CARLI Senior Director.

The recipient will be recognized at the CARLI Annual Meeting.