ALA Scholarship Program

The American Library Association (ALA) is committed to promoting and advancing the librarian profession. To demonstrate this commitment, the ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master's degree with a specialty in school librarianship that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited unit.

You can apply for a variety of scholarships through the single online application hosted by the ALA Scholarship Program.

The scholarship process is open annually from September 1st - March 1st. Applications and reference forms (which must be submitted on-line) are available during that time period. Instructions and general information remain available year round.

Before starting, read the ALA Scholarship FAQ, and carefully review the requirements in each category for the scholarships to which you are applying. Then complete the online application. PLEASE NOTE: It is only necessary to complete ONE online application regardless of the number of scholarships you apply for. You may apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for by checking the appropriate boxes on the application form.

See all scholarships Start your online application

ALA Scholarship Application Requirements

The following items are required for all scholarship applications. Be sure to check the requirements of the specific scholarship for which you are applying because you may need to mail additional documents.

1. Completed online application (which includes a personal statement).
2. Completed references (only references on the official online form will be accepted). Three professional references are required. Once you begin the application process, you will be asked to provide the name and email addresses of three (3) professional references. These should be people (excluding family members) who are well acquainted with your educational background, intellectual abilities, professional experience, and personal character. Each person listed will receive an email message with instructions for completing the online reference form. An application will not be considered complete unless the three references are submitted by March 1st.
3. Official academic transcripts. An official transcript is required from bachelor's degree-granting institutions and any master's level work toward an ALA-accredited or NCATE approved master's in library science. Transcripts for other master's level work are not required but may be submitted for consideration. The college transcript should be submitted only once regardless of the number of scholarships you apply for. All transcripts must be received by March 1st (electronic transcripts will not be considered). They should be placed in a sealed envelope and mailed in one package along with other materials (as required by specific scholarships) to the following address: ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601.
4. Personal Statement. Applicant should include a personal statement as part of the on-line application. It should consist of not more than 300 words and describe your interest and any work in your proposed field of study, including non-course educational experience, volunteer work, teaching or other relevant employment and publications. You should also indicate what specific competencies or characteristics you believe you have to offer the field of librarianship, what you can bring to the profession, and in particular what you have done which indicates your potential for leadership. Describe your career interests and goals and your commitment to library and information service.

The completed online application, personal statement, and three references must be received in the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse by March 1st to be considered.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4279 or scholarships@ala.org.

See the Comparison of ALA Scholarship Requirements at a Glance

Factors Considered

Factors considered in making these awards include:

• academic excellence;
• leadership; and
• evidence of commitment to a career in librarianship.

Achievement in these areas may best be demonstrated by statements indicating the nature of library and other experience, by professional references, and by the personal statement included in the online application.

PLEASE NOTE: For all general scholarships you will be asked to complete only one (1) personal statement during your online application.