For immediate release | September 14, 2026
Rebecca Schlosser Selected as the 2026 David H. Clift Scholarship Recipient
2026 David H. Clift Scholarship Recipient - Rebecca Schlosser
The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the selection of Rebecca Schlosser of Toronto, Canada as the 2026 David H. Clift Scholarship recipient.
The David H. Clift Scholarship was named for a former director of the American Library Association. The $3,000 scholarship is awarded to a person pursuing a master's degree in library and information studies.
Raised in a rural Kansas farming community, Schlosser developed an early appreciation for preserving family and community history. More than four years of work as a textile authenticator and restorationist further developed expertise in preserving material culture and uncovering the histories embedded in everyday objects.
At Sarah Lawrence College, Schlosser gained professional archival experience through positions with Sarah Lawrence archives and Yonkers Public Library. Independent research has included reconstructing Alice Walker’s experience as a Sarah Lawrence student and creating a research guide to improve access to records surrounding Walker’s history with the institution.
Schlosser’s graduate studies will focus on archival silences, community access, public and digital history, oral histories, and methods for preserving underrepresented stories. After earning an MLS, career goals include archival work at a cultural heritage institution with a strong emphasis on public outreach.
“Museums and archives control the historical foundation of a community,” Schlosser said. “Archivists will be responsible for defending the right of historical records to exist.”
Schlosser will attend University of Toronto (Ontario, CAN)
For information on the ALA Scholarship program, visit the scholarship page.
The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) manages the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse.
Contact:
Kimberly L. Redd, MSHTM
Program Manager, Certification & Talent Development
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)
KLredd@ala.org312/.280.4279
