Montana State Library Awards $250,000 in Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2006
Contact: Sara Groves
(406) 444-5357

(HELENA) - The Montana State Library is pleased to announce that ten Montana residents were selected to receive $25,000 scholarships to attend graduate school as part of the State Library's PEEL (Professional Education and Employment for Librarians) program. The scholarship money is provided through a competitive grant, funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services' "Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century" program.

"The goal of the PEEL Program is to increase the number of librarians in Montana who have obtained their masters degree in library science," said Darlene Staffeldt, Montana State Librarian. "As technology advances and the amount of available information increases, professional level librarians will be absolutely vital to Montana residents to help them access the information they need to move on with their lives."

Full $25,000 scholarships have been offered to the following ten Montanans:

  • Michelle Fenger of Bigfork. Fenger is a bookmobile librarian with Lake County Libraries.
  • Brett Fisher of Columbia Falls. Fisher is a technology coordinator with Flathead County Library.
  • Melissa Hart of Missoula. Hart is a University of Montana wildlife research unit biologist.
  • Nancy Hatfield of Bozeman. Hatfield works as a substitute staff member at the Bozeman Public Library.
  • Stef Johnson of Somers. Johnson is a library assistant and systems technician with Flathead County Library.
  • Desiree Olson of Missoula. Olson is a legal document coder.
  • Lee Phillips of Belt. Phillips previously was employed with Highwood Public Schools.
  • Kathryn Robins of Billings. Robins is a technology consultant.
  • Megan Stark of Missoula. Stark works as a library technician at the University of Montana Library.
  • Sheree West of Big Sky. West is the assistant librarian with Big Sky Community Library.

Each scholarship recipient is required to begin graduate school through the University of Washington distance MLS program this fall, complete the MLS degree by 2009, and then work two years in a professional level position at a Montana public, school, or tribal college library.

The PEEL Advisory Committee reviewed all complete applications and recommended to the State Library Commission that the above ten individuals receive the scholarship money. The Commission approved this recommendation.

State Librarian Darlene Staffeldt said, "The scholarship advisory committee was very impressed by the qualifications and enthusiasm of each of these scholarship recipients. We congratulate them and wish them well as they train for careers as professional librarians."

The next phase of the PEEL grant will fund stipends to Montana libraries to assist with funding a professional level position for two years. All public libraries, public school libraries, and tribal college libraries are eligible to apply for these stipends.

To learn more about the scholarship recipients, visit MSL's Web site at: http://msl.mt.gov/greatcareer. For more information, contact Sue Jackson, Library Development Consultant at the Montana State Library at (406) 444-5350 or at sujackson@mt.gov.

Through its statewide programs, the Montana State Library empowers Montanans; enhances learning in families and communities; builds 21st Century skills; and provides opportunities for civic participation. For more information, visit http://msl.mt.gov.

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