Wayne State University supports ALA’s diversity efforts

Contact: Gwendolyn Prellwitz


Acting Director, ALA Office for Diversity


(312) 280-5048


gprellwitz@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


January 13, 2008

CHICAGO - The Wayne State Library and Information Science Program will provide $5,000 in matching scholarship funds to Serena Vaquilar, a 2008 American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Scholarship winner.

Vaquilar is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science at Wayne State, which first offered matching scholarships to Spectrum recipients in its graduate program in library and information studies in 1998.

A graduate from Cal State University Northridge in 2007, with M.A. in Music, she is especially interested in a career as a Fine and Performing Arts Librarian. She has vast experience as a music librarian, most recently as an intern for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Library.

Wayne State’s Library and Information Science Program’s matching funds provide Spectrum Scholars with adequate financial assistance to pursue and finish their studies. Its effort to attract Spectrum Scholars demonstrates the importance of the value of diversity to the university.

Established in 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program has become one of the most important drivers of diversity in the library profession. The program recruits and awards scholarships for graduate programs in library and information studies to students from five professionally under-represented groups: American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. To date Spectrum has provided a one-year $5,000 scholarship and more than $1,500 in professional development opportunities to 564 graduate students. Former Spectrum scholars now serve on ALA Council and numerous professional committees; head branches and departments of public and academic libraries; work in and manage law, medical and special libraries; lead efforts to explore and integrate new technologies; and find numerous ways to give back to the profession and promote librarianship at large.

Wayne State University’s support of its Spectrum recipients greatly bolsters the Spectrum Scholarship Program’s ability to attract and retain talented students under-represented in the library and information science profession. To learn more about the Graduate School of Library and Information science, please visit
http://lisp.wayne.edu/ To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, please visit:
www.ala.org/spectrum or contact Gwendolyn Prellwitz at (312) 280-5048,
gprellwitz@ala.org.