Spaulding Scholarship Information

Special Libraries Association
New Jersey Chapter
Frank H. Spaulding Student Scholarship

The scholarship is named in honor of Frank H. Spaulding, president of NJSLA from 1977 to 1978 and SLA President from 1986-1987 year.  He created the Task Force on the Value of the Information Professional and was known nationally for his outstanding dedication and contributions to the profession.

Eligibility
The scholarship is open to students who are New Jersey residents and who are currently enrolled in an accredited Masters level program in library science.  Membership in SLA as well as membership in the New Jersey Chapter is preferred but not mandatory.
Application packet must include:

  1. Official transcript from graduate program
  2. Proof of New Jersey residency (such as utility bill)
  3. Resume
  4. A recommendation from a current or former library school faculty member
  5. A statement of approximately 250-500 words on the following topic:   

        How will you position yourself for career growth and how will SLA membership help you achieve it?

 Award details:

  1. Recipient is awarded a $500 scholarship, which will be presented at the chapter's annual business meeting in early December 2009.
  2. The student's membership in SLA will be paid for one year.
  3. The winning statement will be published on the NJSLA web site.
  4. Deadline for submissions:  Applications must be received between September 1 and October 15 , 2009  to allow time for full review and consideration. Incomplete submissions and/or late submissions will not be considered.    Essays can be emailed to Barbara Burton at burton.barbara@gmail.com
    The rest of the application packet should be sent to:
               
                                        Barbara Burton
                                        Department of Library and Information Science, School of Communication and Information;Rutgers, The State University, 4 Huntington Street
                                        New Brunswick, NJ  08901
     

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  1. Mar 02, 2009

    Eric Schwarz says:

    Thanks, Barbara, Liz, Annette and Cheryl (and anyone else who has helped). &nbsp...

    Thanks, Barbara, Liz, Annette and Cheryl (and anyone else who has helped).

     Great question!

     I'd like to make it as easy as possible for people to apply.

    1. For transcripts, maybe it should say "transcript, or if this is the student's first semester, then a letter of current enrollment." Also, could we allow students to send unofficial transcripts? Rutgers, for example, usually sends an official transcript within a couple of weeks, but students are able to generate an unofficial transcript online. In the unlikely case there's any question about the enrollment/grades, we could then request the official transcript.
    2. As for the ID, it's possible that a student doesn't drive and doesn't have utility bills. How about adding "official government ID with a current New Jersey address, a bank or credit card statement (with account number obscured) or an official letter or transcript from the student's college or university that includes the New Jersey address. Driver's license or ID must be current and other documents must be dated within three months prior.

    Posting to the various NJSLA sites and the LISSA list are great. Should we also post to listservs (or send to the schools) where NJ students might reasonably be  expected to attend (those in NY and PA, plus maybe San Jose State) -- and to the Leadership list of SLA?

     

  2. Mar 03, 2009

    Barbara Burton says:

    Hi, I agree we should make it easy to apply...I was not aware of the "unofficial...

    Hi,

    I agree we should make it easy to apply...I was not aware of the "unofficial transcript" that Rutgers provided.  I don't know if other schools do that or not and we don't want to get too bogged down in details.  How about we just say "Transcript from current Graduate program" and leave it at that...they can inquire about the unofficial or status if first semester student.

    Also, don't want to get too bogged down in proof of residency...seems unlikely someone is going to lie about this to get the scholarship...how about we just say "Proof of New Jersey residency" (NJ Driver's License or equivalent" since I would think most people do drive and the ones that don't are used to providing some alternate ID....

    Barbara

  3. Mar 03, 2009

    Eric Schwarz says:

    Hi Barbara,  Absolutely. If you could just make those changes in the applic...

    Hi Barbara,

     Absolutely. If you could just make those changes in the application rules.

     Also, you might want to encourage people to scan everything and email it -- or mail it to you if necessary.

     Something like:

    Essays can be emailed to Barbara Burton at burton.barbara@gmail.com
    The rest of the application packet may be scanned and emailed (if possible) or mailed to:

             
                                        Barbara Burton
                                        620 Lenox Avenue
                                        Westfield, NJ  07090