INDIANAPOLIS - Applications for the third and final round of Indiana's Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) fellowships are being accepted through August 28, 2009 to begin coursework in the January 2010 term. I-LLID fellows receive full tuition, networking and community service opportunities, and an annual stipend. Fellows must commit to work in an Indiana library for at least two years upon graduation. For more information about the I-LLID fellowships visit the State Library's Diversity Advisory Council webpage.
The I-LLID project awarded 10 fellowships last December to the first class and has just awarded 10 more scholarships for MLS students from diverse backgrounds. The Indiana State Library and the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) are pleased to welcome the second class of Master's of Library Science (MLS) fellows as part of the I-LLID project.
I-LLID fellows for round two are as follows:
- Chiayi Tsui, Crawfordsville
- Peter Nguyen, Fort Wayne
- Heidi Butler, Indianapolis
- Armisha Paxton, Indianapolis
- Michelle Dartis, Indianapolis
- Veronica Henderson, Indianapolis
- Maurice Rembert, Indianapolis
- JoAnn White, Merrillville
- Sarah Lois Jenkins, Northampton, MA
- Rodney Freeman, Bourbonnais, IL
"I would like to congratulate these new fellows and look forward to following their promising careers," said Indiana State Librarian, Roberta L. Brooker. "This program is great for both fellows, who get a top-notch library science education and a foot in the door professionally, and Indiana, which keeps these future leaders in state."
In addition to the scholarship and stipend, recipients will also benefit from participation in state and regional library associations, as well as other supplementary activities including special orientation meetings in various types of library settings, meetings with library directors, diversity workshops, transition to work programs, online and face-to-face support networks, and other special projects.
The I-LLID project was developed by the Indiana State Library's Diversity Advisory Council to increase diversity in libraries with the goal that library staff more closely reflects the communities they serve. The Diversity Advisory Council sought ways to increase diversity in the library profession in an effort to increase statewide literacy levels by role modeling through more diverse library staff.
The I-LLID project is funded through a $1 million federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant was given as part of the Laura Bush 21st-Century Librarian Program and is administered by the Indiana State Library. Additionally, the project is supported by the Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI), Administrators of Large Public Libraries in Indiana (ADOLPLI), Indiana Black Librarians Network (IBLN), Indiana Library Federation (ILF), and Indiana Special Libraries Association (ISLA).
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.
In all, IMLS awarded 31 institutions grants totaling $20.3 million as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The purpose of this initiative is to help bolster the library profession. Since 2002, IMLS has helped fund the education of 3,220 master's degree students, 186 doctoral students, 1,256 pre-professional students, and 26,186 continuing education students.
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