SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

The Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (WLAF) is excited to announce a new and expanded Conference Scholarship Program designed to help more members access valuable professional development opportunities.

This year, we are launching a new scholarship application process for the 2026 WLA Annual Conference. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, five scholarships of up to $500 each will be awarded to WLA members to help cover conference registration.

The goal of the scholarship program is to reduce financial barriers to participation, encourage first-time attendees and those with limited employer support, and strengthen the diversity and vitality of Wisconsin's library community.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to all current WLA members. Applicants will be asked to submit a brief application describing:

  • Why they would like to attend the conference
  • How attending will benefit their professional growth
  • Any financial barriers they face

Preference will be given to staff from small, rural, or special libraries,  first-time attendees, individuals with financial need, students, early-career library workers, new graduates, and others who may have limited access to professional development opportunities.

Scholarships will be awarded as conference registration vouchers and may be used toward conference registration fees. They do not cover travel, lodging, preconference workshops, membership dues, or ticketed special events.

This year's scholarships are available only for the WLA Annual Conference on October 20-23 at the Marriott Madison West. Beginning in 2027, we plan to expand the program so members may apply for scholarships to attend other WLA conferences and institutes, including WAPL, WAAL, AWSL, and other eligible WLA events.

The number and amount of scholarships awarded each year will depend on the success of the Foundation's fundraising efforts. We're pleased to offer five $500 scholarships this year and look forward to growing this program as support allows.

Timeline:

  • Applications open: July 23
  • Applications close: August 21
  • Scholarship Committee review: August 24–September 4
  • Applicants notified: the week of September 7

If attending the WLA Annual Conference has been out of reach financially, we encourage you to apply. We hope this program makes it easier for more members to connect, learn, and engage with colleagues from across Wisconsin.

How to Apply:

Follow the link to apply:

https://forms.gle/uLrnjW7nxBB8d8PN8

We encourage interested members to apply by August 21 using the link above.

 

 WLA FOUNDATION CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS (Must be a WLA Member)

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WLAF George Bauer Memorial Fund Continuing Education Scholarship
Must be a WLA member in good standing employed in a library in Wisconsin. Scholarship amount determined annually. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026. 

WLAF Gloria Hoegh Memorial Fund Education for Rural Librarians Scholarship
Must be a library employee working in a Wisconsin community with a current population of 5,000 or less or who works with library employees in those communities. Must be a WLA member in good standing.  Scholarship amount determined annually. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026. 

WLA FOUNDATION LIBRARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS (Must be a WLA Member)

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Library Education Scholarship
Must be a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to a master's degree program in library and information science at a Wisconsin school during the coming academic year beginning with the fall term as a part-time or full-time student. Scholarship amount determined annually. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026.

Sally Davis Scholarship
Must be a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to the master’s degree program in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the coming academic year beginning with the fall term as a part-time or full-time student. Scholarship amount determined annually. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026. 

Vida Cummins Stanton Scholarship
Must be a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to the Master's degree program in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee during the coming academic year beginning with the fall term as a part-time or full-time student, pursuing a career in school library media or youth services program. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026. 

Diversity Scholarship
WLAF awards a scholarship to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students who has been admitted to a master's degree program in library and information science at a Wisconsin school for the coming academic year. The application will be available April 15, 2026, and the application deadline is June 15, 2026. 

WLA Foundation scholarships are funded through generous charitable contributions. The WLA Foundation Board allocates scholarship amounts based on a percentage in each scholarship endowment. The Scholarships Committee reviews applications and determines the recipients.

 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 

Library Education Scholarship - Hayley Huston 

Sally Davis Scholarship  - Karissa Richardson 

Vida Cummins Stanton Scholarship - Rosa Chambers 

Diversity Scholarship - Dominic Davis 

Gloria Hoegh Scholarship for Rural Librarians - Cathy Kolbeck

George Bauer Memorial Fund Scholarship - Kristina Kelley Johnson  

Fall Conference Scholarships - TBD