Diversity Scholarships
Many professional organizations offer assistance to students from historically underrepresented backgrounds pursuing a degree in library and information science. Below is a list of scholarship resources for students from diverse backgrounds. Please note that scholarship information and deadlines may change. Visit each organization's website for more information.
Scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds
American Association of Law Libraries & Thomson West George A. Strait Minority Scholarship
MLIS candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds who have experience and an interest to work in law libraries are encouraged to apply. Award amount varies.
Deadline: April
American Indian Library Association Virginia Mathews Memorial Scholarship
Qualified American Indian applicants who have been accepted in to an ALA accredited program are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Recipients are awarded up to $2,000 for one academic school year.
Deadline: May
American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship
Students from historically underrepresented populations who have completed no less that 1/3 of their MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program are encouraged to apply. Recipients receive $5,000 scholarship in addition to professional development support.
Deadline: March
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Scholarship
Financial assistance is provided to a student of Asian or Pacific background who is enrolled, or has been accepted into, a master's or doctoral degree program in library and/or information science at an ALA-accredited school. Award amount is not specified.
Deadline: April
Association of Research Libraries Kaleidoscope Program
The goal of the ARL Kaleidoscope Program is to attract master of library and information science (MLIS) students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to careers in research libraries and archives. The program, funded by ARL member libraries, was established in 2000 as the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce and was renamed Kaleidoscope in 2019.
Deadline: June
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies Century Scholarship
A scholarship of up to $2,500 that funds services or accommodation for a library school student(s) with disabilities admitted to an ALA-accredited library school. The scholarship will fund services or accommodations that are either not provided by law or otherwise by the university that will enable the student or students to successfully complete the course of study for a Master's or Doctorate in Library Science and become a library or information studies professional.
Deadline: March
Chinese American Librarians Association Scholarships
Students of Chinese descent or nationality and who are enrolled as full-time students in an ALA-accredited program are encouraged to apply. Students can apply for any of the four scholarships CALA offers (totaling $2200) through a single application.
Deadline: March
HistoryMakers Fellowship, Mentoring, Training and Placement Institute
Seeks African-American archivists who recently graduated with a MLIS degree. Applicants must have an interest in working with African-American archival collections. Fellows will receive a $37,000 stipend.
Deadline: February
Kalamazoo Community Foundation Amanda Green Scholarship
The Amanda Green Scholarship, named after a former library assistant in Teen Services at Kalamazoo Public Library, promotes the library profession to people of color. By providing monetary assistance to individuals seeking a master's degree from an accredited library science program, the library hopes to promote the training and hiring of more librarians of color in Kalamazoo and other communities. For questions contact Scholarship Manager Meredith Bradford at mbradford@kalfound.org.
Deadline: March 1
Medical Library Association Scholarship for Minority Students
African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander American individuals entering into an ALA-accredited program, who wish to study health sciences librarianship are encouraged to apply. Recipients are awarded up to $5,000.
Deadline: Not Specified
REFORMA Scholarship
The REFORMA Scholarship provides up to $1500 of financial assistance to encourage and enable Spanish speakers to pursue or advance a career in Library and Information Science. Any current or newly entering graduate library school student [M.L.S. or Ph.D.] may apply for this scholarship. Applicant must provide proof of enrollment to an accredited library school. Full-time status is not a requirement.
Deadline: April