Library Science Scholarships
Memorandum in Support
A.3467 (Galef)/S.1683 (Farley)
April 25, 2007
NYSHEI, the advocacy voice of the public and private academic and research libraries of New York State, supports A.3467/S.1683 establishing library science scholarships.
NYSHEI supports this initiative to secure annual appropriations for the provision of 50 scholarships for graduate study leading to a Master of Arts in library science (MLS) to qualified state residents who commit to serve in a library in New York.
We believe that this legislation will help maintain a flow of skilled information professionals to the varied libraries of our state, providing a benefit not only to those libraries, but also to their patrons and ensuring that New York’s libraries remain competitive into the 21st century.
While well intentioned, this legislation can be improved by:
- Limiting the scholarships to state residents who plan to enroll at a New York State, public or private, institution.
- Extending the scholarships to students who seeking graduate degrees in information science (MIS) as well as those seeking a graduate degree in library science.
These amendments would improve the legislation by supporting MLS and MIS programs at state institutions.
NYSHEI supports A.3467/S.1683, encourages the aforementioned amendments, and urges immediate passage.