NJLA Scholarship

NJLA Course, Equity, and Karma Foundation Scholarships

The New Jersey Library Association is committed to growing and advancing library professionals in the state of New Jersey. To demonstrate this commitment, NJLA provides scholarships to students attending or accepted to attend ALA-accredited LIS graduate schools. Applicants must live or work in the state of New Jersey. The Scholarship Subcommittee seeks to recognize LIS students who demonstrate academic achievement, vision, innovation, and the potential for leadership.

To consider your application, the NJLA Scholarship Committee will require a completed online application with supporting materials (listed below) submitted no later than Friday, March 7, 2025. All supporting materials must be provided digitally. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all requested materials are received by the stated deadline.

Supporting materials to be submitted in addition to the online application:

● A resume or CV that includes your work and education history, along with any internships or volunteer work.

● Transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended (undergraduate and graduate). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable and encouraged.

● A personal essay up to 500 words explaining your choice of librarianship as a profession. Remember, our review criteria seeks applicants who can demonstrate academic achievement, innovation, and leadership potential.

● Two letters of recommendation. Share the link provided in the application with two individuals within your professional, business, or educational history who can comment specifically on your work ethic, academic achievement, innovation, and leadership potential. Applicants should ensure their recommender submits the form before the application deadline.

Please follow the file naming conventions provided on the online application when uploading supporting material.

All applicants must agree to be available for a virtual interview on Thursday, April 10 or Friday, April 11, 2025.

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The Course Scholarship award will be $3750 per awardee to be used in the Fall semester (September 2025) and/or the Spring semester (January 2025).

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Moreover, in partnership with Rutgers University School of Communication and Information (SC&I) Department of Library and Information Science (LIS), New Jersey State Library, and LibraryLinkNJ, NJLA will be awarding Equity Scholarships of $8,500 each to be used in the Fall semester (September 2025) through the Winter/Spring semester (January 2026). These awards intend to increase equity and diversity in the recruitment and retention of library workers in the state of New Jersey who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African, and/or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

To be eligible for the Equity Scholarship, applicants must:
● Identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African, and/or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
● Be enrolled in an accredited program beginning no later than September 15, 2025 (Fall Semester) with full or part-time status (Students with acceptance letters may apply as long as they anticipate fall enrollment.)
● Plan to maintain a minimum course load of two classes per semester while receiving NJLA Equity Scholarship funding
● Live or work in New Jersey

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Each recipient will also be recognized at the 2025 NJLA Annual Conference, held in Atlantic City on May 28-30, which they be able to attend for free. All scholarship winners are also encouraged to participate in and be of service to NJLA.

To apply for either or both scholarship opportunities, please fill out this application.

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Any questions can be directed to the NJLA Scholarship Committee at: [email protected]

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