California Library Association supports Spectrum Presidential Initiative

For Immediate Release
Thu, 08/12/2010

Contact:

Gwendolyn Prellwitz

CHICAGO—The California Library Association (CLA), a chapter of the American Library Association, has announced its support of the Spectrum Presidential Initiative with a contribution of $500.

ALA President Roberta Stevens, Immediate Past President Dr. Camila Alire, ALA President-Elect Molly Raphael and ALA Past President Dr. Betty J. Turock, chair of the initiative, continue the Spectrum Presidential Initiative as a special campaign to raise $1 million for the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Through this initiative, ALA aims to meet the critical needs of supporting master’s-level scholarships, providing two $25,000 doctoral scholarships, increasing the Spectrum Endowment to ensure the program’s future and developing special programs for recruitment and career development. CLA’s contribution will allow ALA to continue to support master’s-level Spectrum Scholarships and build the Spectrum Endowment.

Kim Bui-Burton, 2010 CLA president, said of the gift,

“As a former recipient of a CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland, I know the impact this kind of professional, financial investment can have on a library school student.  As CLA President I am delighted to share the support of the Board and membership for ALA's Spectrum Scholarship students as they prepare to meet the needs of our nation's diverse and growing communities.”

Established in 1895, the California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services, librarianship, and the library community. CLA helps its 3,000 members excel in a fast-changing job market and is a resource for learning about new ideas and technology. Furthermore, CLA is a leading advocate on all statewide library issues and actively works to influence legislation affecting libraries and librarians. Governed by an elected Board of Directors, CLA is headquartered in Folsom, California. More information may be obtained at www.cla-net.org.

Established in 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program is ALA’s national effort to increase diversity in the profession by recruiting and providing scholarships that allow students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds to become librarians.  Spectrum Scholars improve service at the local level because they reflect the communities served by libraries in today’s changing world.  Spectrum has provided more than 680 scholarships to qualified applicants enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an ALA-recognized NCATE school librarian program. To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, visit www.ala.org/spectrum.

For more information about the Spectrum Presidential Initiative or to make an online donation, visit http://spectrum.ala.org. To learn more, get involved, or to make a pledge to the Spectrum Presidential Initiative, contact Miguel A. Figueroa, Director, Office for Diversity & Spectrum at mfigueroa@ala.org, or Kim Olsen-Clark, Director, Development Office at kolsen-clark@ala.org.