Graduate Scholarships
Graduate Scholarship Application and Instructions
Graduate Scholarship Recommendation Form
The Foundation’s program for these scholarships was established to enhance the capability of the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) to meet current and future needs for librarians and other library positions requiring graduate credentials in order to deliver high quality service to the residents of Fairfax County and City of Fairfax. Several graduate scholarships are awarded each year, dependent on the availability of well qualified candidates and funds. You are eligible to apply if you live, work, and volunteer or attend school within Fairfax County or City of Fairfax, Virginia, and you are enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment in a graduate program.
Scholarships are awarded for individuals pursuing graduate degrees in the following disciplines:
- Library Science at an American Library Association (ALA) accredited school. These programs offer degrees with names such as Master of Library Science (MLS), Master of Arts, Master of Librarianship, Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS), and Master of Science;
- Business Administration; Management;
- School Counseling;
- Education, Adult Learning, Early Childhood Studies, Master of Arts in Teaching;
- Information Systems and Technology; and
- Public Administration.
Scholarship Awards
Up to five (5) awards may be granted, dependent on the availability of funds, in the above disciplines as follows:
- Three (3) awards for $3,000 in a Library Science discipline (at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, one (1) of these awards may be granted in another of the disciplines listed).
- One (1) award for $3,500 (The Edwin S. Clay III Award) in a Library Science discipline.
- One (1) award for $5,000 in a Library Science discipline, sponsored by the George Mason Friends, Inc.
Additional awards may be granted dependent on funding by sponsors for the awards, for any of the disciplines above.
At its discretion, the Foundation may alter the total number and mix of awards dependent on the applicant group, their qualifications and the funds available
The Foundation is not required to select a recipient if none of the submissions merits the award in a given year. Scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis without regard to race, gender, religion, age, physical disability, or sexual orientation.
The Foundation considers the merit of each application carefully and factors evaluated will include:
- Potential for academic excellence;
- Potential for superior achievement in a library environment;
- Evidence of commitment to a career in a library system, preferably within the FCPL System; and
- Previous experience in a library (public or private).
Applications that are postmarked or received by April 15 will be considered. Applications received after the deadline or that are incomplete will not be considered. Please consider applying for a scholarship. Be sure to review the Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Send your application to the address below.
Each applicant will be notified of the Foundation’s decision within six (6) to eight (8) weeks of the closing date. The Foundation’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
For further information, please contact:
info@FairfaxLibraryFoundation.org
703-324-8300
Fairfax Library Foundation
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 329
Fairfax, VA 22035
Graduate Scholarship Application and Instructions
Graduate Scholarship Recommendation Form
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