Beard Scholarship

The Beard Scholarship’s purpose is to provide financial assistance toward completing a Master’s degree in library science for candidates who show strong potential to inspire and motivate their peers in the profession and in professional associations. The recipient must be completing their senior year in an accredited university or be a graduate of such an institution or accepted or enrolled as a student in a master’s degree program at a library school accredited by the American Library Association. Students who have already begun their programs are eligible to apply. They must agree to work for one year following graduation from library school in a library-related capacity in Georgia, or agree to pay back a prorated amount of the award plus interest. Repayment must be made within a two year period. Two letters of reference, transcripts, and proof of admissions must be e-mailed directly to the Scholarship Committee vice-chair.

The Georgia Library Association was founded in 1897 to facilitate partnership among Georgia's librarians, many of whom had previously found themselves isolated in their work. With the advent of this professional network, librarians and library staff could work cooperatively with their peers to develop library services throughout the state. GLA annually presents the Hubbard and Beard scholarships to two outstanding graduate students in Library and Information Science who in turn agree to take professional positions in Georgia for at least one year after graduation. In 1997, an additional Centennial Scholarship was also awarded.