Get Certified!: Scholarships

The American Library Association offers many general scholarships along with specialized scholarships targeted to support staff, youth services, school media specialists, and members of underrepresented groups.

The Donna- Gathers Scholarship
The Donna Hoke Scholarship was established by the New York Black Librarians’ Caucus Inc. to encourage students of African descent to enter the field of librarianship. The fund was named in honor of a young librarian who was an active member of the New York Black Librarians’ Caucus Inc. and other professional and civic organizations. Donna Hoke was deeply concerned about the issues confronting minority communities and was committed to bringing about positive change.
Ms. Hoke began as a page in the Queens Borough Public Library, and went on to receive her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois. Because of her interest in children, she became a specialist in children’s services. At the early age of thirty, Donna Hoke succumbed to Hodgkin’s disease.

NYBLC Library Support Staff Professional Development Scholarship
This scholarship is offered in recognition of 36 years of dedicated service to the library profession by Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), Director-Emeritus at Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. Past President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (2004-2006), Andrew is an Adjunct Instructor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College (CUNY) and the Black Studies Program of the History & Philosophy Department at York College (CUNY). He is also a Library Consultant/Advisor.