Samantha Baldwin Selected as the 2023 ALA Century Scholarship Recipient

The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the selection of Samantha Baldwin of Montgomery, Alabama as the 2023 Century Scholarship recipient.

The $2,500 scholarship funds services or accommodation for a library school student with disabilities admitted to an ALA-accredited library program.

Remembering that her first job was in a high school library, Baldwin says she has “loved libraries since she was a child.” She hopes to “spread her love and enthusiasm for libraries and reading to others.” Baldwin believes that the library profession could use more diversity to reflect the people who are served by libraries. She aspires to be a vital part of the profession while reaching out to serve diverse communities. Her goal is to assist the homeless in searching for employment and other resources to improve their lives. Her hopes also include working with patrons with special needs as well as those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Baldwin says her “mission is to inspire and motivate other people of color to pursue careers in library and information services.”

Baldwin will be attending the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa).

For information on the ALA Scholarship program, visit our scholarship page.

The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) manages the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse.