Channer awarded 2009 David H. Clift Scholarship
Kimberly Sanders
Program Officer, Education & Scholarships
ALA, Human Resource Development & Recruitment (HRDR)
800-545-2433 x4279
For Immediate Release
June 30, 2009
CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) has named Rachel Channer of Klamath Falls, Ore., the 2009 David H. Clift Scholarship recipient.
The Clift Scholarship, named for David H. Clift, a former ALA director, provides $3,000 to individuals pursuing a master's degree in library and information studies.
Channer’s interest in academic librarianship was fanned by her experiences tutoring undergraduates in writing, where she learned “that teaching students to write well began with instructions on successful library navigation.” Her tutoring allowed her to mentor minority students from disadvantaged backgrounds and she delighted in teaching her students to enhance their papers – and their educations – with credible, citable knowledge.
In her work, both paid and volunteer, Channer has devoted herself to connecting researchers and resources. She recently accepted work overseeing volunteers at 10 public library branches and  is compiling a multicultural reference library for a Native American agency. Her commitment to enhancing others’ education comes at no expense to her own; she graduated Summa Cum Laude, Southern Oregon University, while also dedicating herself to numerous community organizations and activities.
To her chosen profession, academic librarianship, Channer brings a dedication to mentorship, library resource development and minority communities.
Channer will attend McGill University, where she says she “eagerly anticipates being at the forefront of emerging library technologies.”
