Kentucky Virtual Library

Established in 1997, the Spectrum Initiative is the American Library Association’s national diversity and recruitment effort designed to address the specific issue of under-representation of critically needed ethnic librarians within the profession while serving as a model for ways to bring attention to larger diversity issues in the future.

“The goals of the grant program are to support the creation and dissemination of resources that will assist library administrators and managers in developing a vision and commitment to diversity, and in fostering and sustaining diversity throughout their institutions; to increase the representation and advancement of people of color in the field of library administration and management and to establish productive partnerships between LAMA and major national organizations representing minority interests; to strengthen the diversity of LAMA membership, committees, and officers and integrate diversity into all aspects of the Association’s work.”

“The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and ARL member libraries, offers a stipend of up to $10,000 to attract students from underrepresented groups to careers in academic and research libraries. These stipends can be coupled with any other financial aid to provide an extra incentive for completing library school as well as providing the opportunity to work in an ARL library upon graduation. This initiative reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse academic and research library community that will better meet the new challenges of global competition and changing demographics.”

“The program supports efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians and the faculty who will prepare them for careers in library science. It also supports grants for research related to library education and library staffing needs, curriculum development, and continuing education and training.”

“The American Library Association (ALA) is committed to promoting and advancing the librarian profession. To demonstrate this commitment, the ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master’s degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master’s degree in school library media program that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited unit.”

“MLA offers a variety of scholarships and grants to assist qualified students in graduate library science programs and to enable practicing health sciences librarians to take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional development.”

“Each year, SLA awards $30,000 to at least 5 students who have demonstrated their ability and desire to contribute to the Special Librarian field. Details regarding the different scholarships, requirements, instructions and applications are outlined.”

“The purpose of the scholarship is to recruit beginning professional librarians who possess potential for leadership and commitment to service in libraries in the Southeastern United States*. The scholarship provides financial assistance towards completion of the graduate degree in library science from an institution accredited by the American Library Association.”