Library Scholarship For Minority Students In Memory Of Edna Yelland

The CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland encourages and supports ethnic minority students in the attainment of a graduate degree in library or information studies and encourages commitment to the improvement of library services to ethnic minority communities.

Edna Yelland graduated from the California State Library School in Sacramento, obtained a County Librarians Certificate and served as the librarian for Tuolumne County and then San Mateo County. She later headed the Cutting Branch of Richmond Public Library and, from this position, became executive secretary of the California Library Association from 1947 to 1963. It is in memory of this gracious woman who worked so hard to promote the goals of the association and of the profession that the Edna Yelland scholarships are awarded. A profile of Edna Yelland is available here.

A maximum of three scholarships are awarded each year. Recipients are each awarded $2,500, a one-year student membership to CLA, and honored at the CLA annual conference.  Recipients are encouraged to enroll into CLA's Mentoring Program.

The CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland is funded by CLA's Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible and will enable CLA to continue supporting ethnic minority students and encouraging commitment to the improvement of library services to ethnic minority communities in California.

If you would like to contribute to CLA's Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund, please send your check or money order to the CLA office or use our online donation form. For more information on making a contribution, please contact the CLA Executive Director.

Application information for the CLA Edna Yelland Scholarship.

Application period
The 2017 scholarship application period is open until Monday, March 27, 2017 at 5:00pm PDT.

EligibilityApplicants must:

• be US citizens (or permanent US residents) and permanent California residents;
• be enrolled in an ALA-accredited master's of library and information science or information studies program and have completed one or more courses (applications from students at institutions actively seeking accreditation are also welcome);
• intend to work in a California library upon graduation;
• be a member of one of the following ethnic minority groups: African American or Black; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Latino/Hispanic; Pacific Islander;
• provide a description of your financial need; and
• be available for interview by the Edna Yelland Scholarship Committee. Individuals will be chosen for oral interview based upon the merits of the written application.

How to apply
Applicants should submit the following to CLA:

• An explanation of your current financial situation (including salary, number of dependents, etc.).
• A list of all scholarships and financial aid for which you intend to apply and/or have been awarded for graduate education.
• The names and addresses of the educational institutions you have attended and, for each institution, your highest degree attained (if any), your years of attendance, and your subject or field of study.
• A list of your employers, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities for any library experience.
• Information you would like to tell us about any volunteer experiences.
• Names and contact information for two professional references.
• An essay discussing your interest in librarianship, your academic or professional goals, and how this scholarship would help achieve those goals. The essay should include all of these topics, be grammatically correct, and be 1,000 words or less.

Please note: when submitting supplementary files by email, please label your files as follows: Yelland_your last name_document (e.g. Yelland_smith_educational institutions; Yelland_smith_essay).

Applications should be submitted using the online application form below. Supplementary files may be emailed to Shana Sojoyner.

Further information

• The CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland is coordinated by CLA's Edna Yelland Scholarship Committee.
• The committee reserves the right not to award scholarships if qualified candidates are not found.
• The amount of each scholarship may change depending on available funds and the financial need of applicants.
• Award recipients will be asked to submit a photograph to be used in award publicity.
• Applications and all supplementary materials must be received by 5:00pm on the submission deadline.

Apply Now!