Northern California & Nevada Medical Library Group sponsors Spectrum Scholarship

CHICAGO — The Northern California & Nevada Medical Library Group (NCNMLG) has announced it will sponsor a 2018-2019 Spectrum Scholarship to support a student from California or Nevada who is interested in a career in health sciences librarianship.

“The ALA Spectrum Scholarship allowed me to make the seemingly impossible transition from library paraprofessional to becoming an MLIS holding Health Sciences Librarian,” shares NCNMLG President and 2001 Spectrum Scholar Xan Goodman. “Spectrum changed my life trajectory.”

The first NCNMLG Spectrum Scholarship will be awarded in June 2018 and will support a student for the 2018-2019 academic year. Applications are accepted through the ALA Online Scholarship Application system, applicants should select Spectrum from the list of scholarships and indicate “NCNMLG” as how they heard about the scholarship. A completed application includes a personal essay and three references submitted online and mailed official transcripts. Sixty Spectrum Scholarships are awarded annually. The deadline to apply for 2018-2019 Spectrum Scholarships is March 1, 2018. Apply at www.ala.org/scholarships.

“Our chapter wants to support diversity and inclusion in a meaningful way,” writes Goodman. “Our contribution gives another deserving person the opportunity to join this marvelous profession of librarianship and share their voice. Our plan is offer mentorship in medical/health sciences librarianship, and personalized support and guidance. We are honored to be a Spectrum partner!”

The Spectrum Scholarship Program actively recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA. Through Spectrum, the American Library Association affirms its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion by seeking the broadest participation of new generations of racially and ethnically diverse librarians to position ALA to provide leadership in the transformation of libraries and library services. To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, please contact the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5048 or visit www.ala.org/spectrum.

The Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group, a chapter of the Medical Library Association, is an organization of individuals interested in and committed to the provision of quality health care information. Learn more at http://ncnmlg.mlanet.org.