Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship

About the Frederic G. MELCHER Scholarship
The Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship provides financial assistance for the professional education of men and women who intend to pursue an MLS degree and who plan to work in children's librarianship. This work may be serving children up to and including the age of 14 in any type of library.

Administered by:

Association for Library Service to Children logo

Award and Frequency

The scholarship will be granted to two candidates in the amount of $7,500 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.

This award is given out on an annual basis.

Eligibility

Requirements:

  • Applicants must be citizens of the U.S. or Canada.
  • Each scholarship will be granted to four/two candidates whose educational and personal qualifications indicate fitness for professional preparation at the graduate level in the field of library work with children.
  • Factors considered are academic excellence, leadership qualities and a desire to work with children in any type of library.
  • A Personal Statement describing career interests and goals, and a commitment to library service to children must be included with the application.
  • The applicant may not have earned more than 12 semester hours toward an MLS/MLIS prior to June 1 of the year awarded.
  • 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.
  • The recipients are expected to become members of the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.
  • For the Melcher scholarship, money will be paid in two equal amounts at the beginning of the first two semesters or quarters in which the recipient is enrolled.
 
The names of the recipients will be announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference in June and disseminated through press releases and web posting. All other applicants will be notified by e-mail after July 1 st.
 
PLEASE NOTE: The completed online application, personal statement,  and three references must be received in the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse by March 1st to be considered.  There will be no exceptions

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

The scholarship process is open annually from September - March. Applications and reference forms (which must be submitted on-line) are available during that time period. Instructions and general information remain available year round.

Before starting, carefully review the requirements in each category for the scholarships to which you are applying. Then complete the online application. PLEASE NOTE: It is only necessary to complete ONE online application regardless of the number of scholarships you apply for. You may apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for by checking the appropriate boxes on the application form.

The following items are required for all scholarship applications. Be sure to check the requirements of the specific scholarship for which you are applying because you may need to mail additional documents.

  1. Required. Completed online application (which includes a personal statement).
     
  2. Required. Completed references (only references on the official online form will be accepted).  A total of three references must be submitted. You will be prompted to indicate your professional references within the online application.
     
  3. Required. Official academic transcripts from institutions where you received your bachelors degree. These can be submitted directly from the institution, or mailed in the unopened envelope as received from the degree-granting institutions along with any other materials you may need to submit. Only official (sealed) copies will be accepted. All items must be received in the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse by March 1st to be considered.  The mailing address is: ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.
     

Note: The completion of the application is the responsibility of the applicant.

Contact Information

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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 recipients will be announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference and disseminated through press releases and web posting.