(via Margaret Chambers, CARLI)
The CARLI Scholarship provides financial assistance to current employees of CARLI Governing Member Libraries pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master′s Degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Scholarships may be awarded for both on-campus and/or distance education programs.
Applicants must be employed by a CARLI Governing Member Library at the time of application. Preference is given to full-time employees, but part-time and student employees may also apply. The applicant must also be enrolled or accepted and will be a student in a graduate school program during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received. First-time recipients are given preference, but students may apply for and be awarded the scholarship more than once. Candidates awarded the scholarship must supply proof of admission or enrollment to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before the scholarship is disbursed.
Applications are due on Sunday, June 1.
Amount for the 2025–2026 academic year (August 2025–May 2026) will be a minimum of $1,000. Based on available funding and application review, CARLI reserves the right to increase or decrease the award amount, and/or award multiple scholarships or no scholarships for any academic year.
An individual will be selected by the CARLI Scholarship Committee based on the following criteria.
- An applicant′s response to a personal essay question regarding his/her professional goals and objectives in pursuing a library career that demonstrates a commitment to the profession.
- Strength of references. Three CARLI Scholarship Reference Forms are required, at least one of which must be from a librarian at the applicant′s library. References may include additional comments or letters.
Application instructions are available here.