SIRLS Financial Aid Brochure (pdf)
2009 Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies Booklet (pdf)
Fall 2009 costs for attending SIRLS (including Program Fees)
Deadlines for SIRLS financial aid applications are the same as admissions application deadlines. Financial aid applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a funds available basis. Students and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid even if the priority deadline has passed.
Fall Semester: February 1 Spring Semester: September 1
Financial aid, awarded for both academic achievement and financial need, is available from SIRLS. Interested applicants must complete the financial aid form. Both current students and new students accepted for admission are eligible for financial aid. SIRLS financial aid is awarded in the fall for the ensuing academic year. Very few scholarships and assistantships are available for the Spring semester.
General Eligibility Requirements: Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain full-time enrollment status (6 credits) and maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree, defined at a minimum as a GPA of at least 3.0. Students who have not matriculated into a SIRLS degree or certificate program are not eligible for financial aid. Students admitted provisionally may be considered for financial aid on a case-by-case basis. Students receiving financial aid must possess a valid social security number.
Special Eligibility Requirements: Individual scholarships may impose additional or other eligibility criteria.
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Graduate assistants are students employed by SIRLS to help with teaching, research and on-going projects. Both new and continuing students are eligible for assistantships. Prospective graduate assistants must meet general eligibility requirements and request consideration for an assistantship in their financial aid application. Graduate assistants receive a salary in addition to reduced registration costs, non-resident tuition waivers, discounts at the student bookstores and individual health insurance coverage. Graduate assistants pay SIRLS program fees at the in-state level, regardless of residential status. Appointments may be for the academic year or for a semester; they may be ¼ time (10 hours of work per week) or ½ time (20 hours of work per week). All graduate assistants must complete mandatory training at both the university and departmental levels before beginning employment.
SIRLS has a variety of scholarships available to students who matriculate in a SIRLS degree or certificate program. Scholarships are grants of money for use in paying the costs of a student's education. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and/or academic achievement. In addition to the general requirements for financial aid (listed above) some scholarships have special requirements for eligibility, application, and maintenance. The amount of financial aid varies with the scholarship.
SIRLS Scholarships for Library and Information Services in the 21st Century - SIRLS awards a limited number of scholarships in recognition of academic achievement and/or financial need to both new and continuing students. Prospective scholarship awardees must meet general eligibility requirements. SIRLS provides funding for roughly half the amount of tuition and fees for financial aid recipients. In general, SIRLS scholarships are not renewable, although recipients of SIRLS scholarships are eligible for other types of financial aid, such as graduate assistantships or other scholarships. Applicants for SIRLS scholarships must complete the SIRLS financial aid application and submit an essay of no more than 200 words describing their views, of library, and information services in the 21st Century.
Knowledge River - Knowledge River recruits persons linguistically and culturally sensitive to, and knowledgeable of, Hispanic or Native American communities. Knowledge River Scholars receive tuition and fees for one academic year, along with either a graduate assistantship or a stipend. Knowledge River offers a variety of courses presented from a multicultural perspective, academic support, and the opportunity to be part of a cohort. For more information about Knowledge River opportunities, see the Knowledge River Funding Page.
Helping Hands Scholarships - Students who have completed at least half the course requirements for the master's degree and who have filed their mid-program Plan of Study may apply for a one-time grant of up to $600 ($200 per course) to help defray the cost of non-resident tuition, SIRLS registration fees and books. General eligibility requirements apply.
Jimmie Bevill Public Librarian Scholarship - This scholarship supports students pursuing studies in public librarianship. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, students must submit a paragraph on the role public libraries play in serving underserved populations, including any relevant experience. Preference is given to students with relevant experience.
Friends of the Green Valley Library Scholarship - This scholarship is for any employee of the Pima County Public Library seeking their master's degrees from the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science. Applicants do not need to reside in Green Valley. All applications must be postmarked by April 30th. ( Download the application form [pdf])
Margaret May Caffall Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship supports SIRLS full-time students with financial need. The amount varies. General eligibility requirements apply.
E. A. Cheves Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding SIRLS students interested in careers in small libraries such as the library in Miami, AZ. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, the applicant must be an Arizona resident.
Alice B. Good Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding SIRLS students interested in public libraries. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, the applicant must be an Arizona resident.
Margaret F. Maxwell Scholarship - This scholarship supports students interested in cataloging and is merit-based. The amount varies. General eligibility requirements apply.
Fay and Lawrence Clark Powell Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding non-resident SIRLS students with a background in humanities. The amount varies. In addition to general eligibility requirements, the student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 graduate credits during the term of the award.
The Mary Esther Treat Clark Scholarship in Library Sciences - This scholarship supports students with demonstrated financial need to a maximum of $1,000, dependent on availability.
Ann Berg Strickland Scholarship - This scholarship supports students interested in special libraries. Students must have a record of satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need. The amount of the award is $500.00. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, students must write a brief statement explaining their interest in pursuing a career in a special library.
H.W. Wilson Company Scholarship - This scholarship supports students with outstanding credentials and demonstrated financial need. The amount of the award varies. General eligibility requirements apply.
Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship - The Arizona Library Association (AzLA) has been working with the UA Scholarship Development Office to create a new scholarship for SIRLS students, the Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship. In the inaugural year of the scholarship (2008-2009), the award is $3,000. In 2009-2010, the Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship will be awarded from an endowment established by the Arizona Library Association. This scholarship will be given annually in perpetuity. AzLA is currently developing plans for fundraising to bolster the endowment. May 1 was the deadline to apply for 2009-2010. More information can be found here.
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SIRLS encourages students with unmet financial need to apply for additional support from the University of Arizona Office of Student Financial Aid. OSFA offers an array of need-based funding for graduate students including scholarships, grants, waivers, loans and work study. Call 520-621-1858, email askaid@email.arizona.edu, or visit them on the web at http://financialaid.arizona.edu.
Additionally, the UA Office of Student Financial Aid has information about available scholarships.
Students may also wish to consult the American Library Association's awards and grants page.
The Mountain Plains Library Association also offers annual loans and scholarships. Scroll down to the loans and scholarships portion of the page.