Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship

Administered by:

Award and Frequency

The scholarship will be granted to two candidates in the amount of $6,000 each. Money will be paid in two equal amounts at the beginning of the first two semesters or quarters in which the recipient is enrolled.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be citizens of the U.S. or Canada.
• The applicants must be accepted at a library school accredited by the American Library Association that offers a full range of courses in children’s materials and library services to children. A letter from the school indicating the applicant is under consideration will be acceptable to begin the application process; however, a letter of acceptance from an ALA-accredited library school must be received by June 1st.
• The applicant may not have earned more than 12 semester hours toward an MLS/MLIS prior to June 1 of the year awarded.

Applicant Responsibility

• The recipients are expected to become members of the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.
• The recipients will be expected to accept positions after graduation in the field of library service to children for at least one year. These positions shall be in the United States or Canada, or in a library provided for dependents of military personnel of the United States or Canada.
• Within a year of graduation, each recipient is expected to submit to the Association for Library Service to Children a letter from an institution’s director or personnel department verifying appointment as a children’s librarian. If the recipient does not complete this requirement, for any reason within the recipient’s control, the scholarship money must be refunded. Failure to fulfill requirements will result in forfeiture, or repayment of scholarship monies.

Application Instructions

PLEASE NOTE: Only online applications and online references will be accepted. There will be no exceptions.

To apply for this scholarship, go to the ALA/HRDR Scholarship Program page. This will include:

• A Personal Statement describing career interests and goals, and a commitment to library service to children must be included with the application.
• Three references must be completed online and received by March 1st. These should be given to professional sources (excluding family) that are well acquainted with the applicants’ educational background, intellectual abilities, professional experience and personal character. An application will not be considered complete unless three references are completed online and received by March 1st.

Contact Information

Selection Criteria

Factors considered are academic excellence, leadership qualities and a desire to work with children in any type of library.

Notification

The names of the 2010-2011 recipients will be announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference, summer 2010, and disseminated through press releases and web posting.