Maine Library Association

The Phyllis E. Ainsworth Scholarship

The $2,000 Phyllis E. Ainsworth scholarship is awarded to an applicant based on the following criteria:

The applicant is a resident of the state of Maine.
The applicant is enrolled in an ALA accredited masters or doctoral degree program in library or information science, has completed at least one course in the program, and has maintained a minimum B average.
The applicant must be a member of the Maine Library Association upon application submission.

Scholarships are awarded directly to the individual to defray tuition, supplies, room, board and other program related expenses. Scholarships are provided for one-time use only. No continued support for the recipient is stated or implied. Selection of the scholarship recipient is overseen by the Scholarship Committee; the committee may choose not to award a scholarship in any given year.

How to Apply

Please observe these instructions carefully when preparing your application. Applications that omit one or more of the following will not be considered.

Completed application form.
A statement of no more than 750 words demonstrating your understanding of a current challenge in Maine librarianship and how you might contribute to a solution.
Electronic documentation of grades from the past semester. Please note that the winner will be required to submit official transcripts from their institution(s) before receiving their award.
Current resume.
Two letters of recommendation:
1. one from a current instructor in your degree program
2. one from a colleague or supervisor (family excluded).
The application deadline is March 31, 2025. Awards will be announced in advance of the 2025 MLA Conference.

Scholarship Application

Materials submitted will be held in confidence by the Scholarship Committee and become the property of the Maine Library Association. All application materials should be emailed as PDF files to the Chair of the Committee with the following naming conventions:

Last Name_Resume
Last Name_Statement
Last Name_Grades
Last Name_Recommendation 1
Last Name_Recommendation 2

Anna Faherty
Scholarship & Grant Committee
secretary@mainelibraries.org

Past Scholarship Recipients

2024 - Bethany Schmidt
2023 - Emmaline Bruce
2022 - Wendy West
2021 - Harley Rogers
2020 - Leanne Oren
2019 - Joanne Elwell
2018 - Savannah Sessions
2017 - Allison Atkins
2016 - Kristi Bryant
2015 - Abby Morrow
2014 - Emma Jane Gibbon
2013 - Jenna Duplisea
2012 - Lisa Dibbern
2011 - Elizabeth Phyllis Kane
2010 - Iris Eichenlaub
2009 - Rebecca D. Bushby
2008 - Debora Cleveland
2007 - Avery D Olmstead IV
2006 - Erica Millette
2005 - Ian Graham
2004 - Cadence Atchison
2003 - Julia Colvin
2002 - Jan Hamilton
2001 - Christine Carrington
2000 - Priscilla Payne
1999 - Anna-Lena Flotten
1998 - Diana Sykes
1997 - Laurie A. C. Rose & Paige M. McIntire
1996 - Valerie McGuire Rich
1995 - Margaret McNamee

Maine Library Association

55 N. Main Street, Unit 49

Belchertown, MA 01007

207.744.7919

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