Massachusetts Library Aid Association

17/06/2025

Link to the 2025 MLAA Application is here:

Massachusetts Library Aid Association Committee on Aid to Small Public Libraries FALL 2025 APPLICATION FOR SMALL PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF DEVELOPMENT DEADLINE IS AUGUST 8, 2025, 5 PM EDT No applications will be considered after this deadline. Successful applicants will be notified by September 1st. Ques...

16/06/2025

MLAA
The Massachusetts Library Aid Association (MLAA) Committee on Aid to Small Public
Libraries is pleased to announce its Scholarship Program for Fall 2025.
MLAA’s goal is to support staff development in small public libraries.
Applications available: June 16, 2025
Applications due: August 8, 2025 at 5 pm. No applications accepted after this date.
To be eligible for the MLAA Scholarship Program applicants must currently work (for a
minimum of one year) in a Massachusetts Public Library in a community of 35,000
population or less and their annual salary may not exceed $45,000.
There are three types of funding opportunities offered to prospective applicants currently
employed in a Massachusetts public library.
Scholarship Assistance Grant (Individual). Complete Sections 1 & 2 of the application here
for those currently enrolled in a graduate degree program leading to a Masters in Library and
Information Science. Scholarships up to $1000 may be given to cover the cost of courses or
training programs to individuals pursuing an MLS/MLIS degree. Previous grant awardees may
apply; however, in no case will more than three scholarships be made to an individual.
Continuing Education Grant (Individual): Complete Sections 1 & 3 of the application here for
grants of up to $500 or the cost of an online course, attending a workshop or program for an
individual staff member of a Massachusetts public library.
Staff Development. Complete application here for grants of up to $1000 to a coordinating
individual to cover the cost of an enrichment workshop or program for staff of one or more
libraries. Open only to Massachusetts Public Libraries in communities with a population of
35,000 or less. Libraries may apply up to three times.
If you are unable to complete the applications using the links above, please contact the
Massachusetts Library Aid Association at [email protected]
Applications must be received by August 8, 2025 at 5 pm. No applications will be
considered after this deadline.
Successful applicants will be notified on or before September 1, 2025.
Problems sending the application or Questions?
Contact: MLAA Liaison, Barbara Friedman [email protected]
The MLAA Chandler Fund is a 501(c)3 organization which supports scholarships for library
science graduate students and for continuing education for staff at qualifying libraries.
The MLAA Chandler Fund is managed by the Community Foundation of North Central
Massachusetts (CFNCM) which receives all donations on behalf of the organization.

Send a message to learn more

12/09/2024

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts awarded Megan Kemp the 2024 Patricia A. Thomas Jeanig Scholarship. This was the last year that the scholarship will be awarded. Megan is the Youth Services Librarian at the Eldridge Public Library.

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12/09/2024

The 2024 MLAA Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
Marissa Mansfield
Amber Smith-Harder
Nina Aguler Shempliner
Molly Donovan
Robin Capone
Seth Ledoux
Melissa Dyer

The Erving Public Library received a staff development award.

The next MLAA Scholarship round will be announced in July of 2025. Applications are due in August. The Committee makes no exceptions to the established criteria or the deadline that is set for these scholarships. All applicants must work in a public library with a population of less than 35,000, have worked in this library for at least one year, earn less than $45,000 per year, be enrolled in a masters program in Library and Information Science, or enrolled in a course that directly benefits the library. Staff development grants are given to libraries with populations under 35,000. Preference is given to enrichment that will benefit the entire staff.

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09/08/2024

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY!!! 5 PM IS THE DEADLINE FOR THIS EASY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION! COMPLETE ONLINE! SEE LINKS AND DESCRIPTIONS BELOW.

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16/06/2024

The Massachusetts Library Aid Association (MLAA) Committee on Aid to Small Public Libraries is pleased to announce its Scholarship Program for Fall 2024.
MLAA’s goal is to support staff development in small public libraries.
Applications available: June 15, 2024
Applications due: August 9, 2024 at 5 pm. No applications accepted after this date.
To be eligible for the MLAA Scholarship Program applicants must currently work (for a minimum of one year) in a Massachusetts Public Library in a community of 35,000 population or less and their annual salary may not exceed $45,000.

There are three types of funding offered to prospective applicants currently employed in a Massachusetts public library.

Scholarship Assistance Grant (Individual). Complete Sections 1 & 2 of the application https://forms.gle/htkKYqmbXubKNnGZ6 for those currently enrolled in a graduate degree program leading to a Masters in Library and Information Science. Scholarships up to $1000 may be given to cover the cost of courses or training programs to individuals pursuing an MLS/MLIS degree. Previous grant awardees may apply; however, in no case will more than three scholarships be made to an individual.

Continuing Education Grant (Individual): Complete Sections 1 & 3 of the application https://forms.gle/htkKYqmbXubKNnGZ6 for grants of up to $500 or the cost of an online course, attending a workshop or program for an individual.

Staff Development. Complete application https://forms.gle/EbsAuQd5UsgncSw4A for grants of up to $1000 to a coordinating individual to cover the cost of an enrichment workshop or program for staff of one or more libraries. Open only to Massachusetts Public Libraries in communities with a population of 35,000 or less. Libraries may apply up to three times.
If you are unable to complete the applications using the links above, please contact the Massachusetts Library Aid Association at [email protected]
Applications must be received by August 9, 2024 at 5 pm. No applications will be considered after this deadline.
Successful applicants will be notified before September 1, 2024.
Problems sending the application or Questions? Contact: MLAA Liaison, Barbara Friedman [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

16/06/2024

The MLAA Board is sharing this announcement for the Patricia A. Thomas-Jeanig Scholarship distributed through the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. To obtain an application, write directly to Tammy Stahl [email protected]

The MLAA Board will review the scholarship applications, but this scholarship in Memory of Patricia A. Thomas-Jeanig is the final decision of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

Please return all materials to the Community Foundation of North
Central Massachusetts c/o, 649 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg,

Purpose: of the Scholarship:

Patricia Thomas – Jeanig was a member of the Board of Trustees at the Townsend Public Library and was also the school librarian at Spaulding School in Townsend. She spent most of her adult life in education and volunteering at her local library. It was her wish that this fund be established to help Massachusetts residents who want to further their education by achieving a Master of Library Science degree. Preference will be given to those pursuing a career in
public or school librarianship with an interest in working with children. This is the last year the scholarship will be awarded. The fund will distribute the balance of the fund (approximately $9,900) to one Massachusetts resident. The applicant must be accepted to a college/university and actively working toward a
Master Degree of Library Science. The scholarship is provided for tuition and/or room and board at an accredited college or university.

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16/05/2022

Donations can be made online to:
The MLAA Chandler Fund (scholarships) https://cfncm.org/donate?fn=mlaa-chandler-fund

OR

The MLAA Miller Fund (Stevens Memorial Library, Ashburnham)
https://cfncm.org/donate?fn=mlaa-Miller-fund

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts to the CFNCM are tax- deductible, subject to individual limitations.

16/05/2022

The MLAA Board is always happy to accept donations to the funds they manage:

The Massachusetts Library Aid Association (MLAA) Chandler Fund which offers scholarships to those pursuing a graduate library degree.

The Massachusetts Library Aid Association (MLAA)Miller Fund which supports in part the operation of the Stevens Memorial Library in Ashburnham.

Donations can be sent in memory or in honor of loved ones to the CFNCM
Both funds are managed by
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM)
649 John Fitch Highway
Fitchburg, MA 01420.

For further information, contact Barbara Friedman, [email protected]

01/02/2022

ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Patricia Thomas-Jeanig Scholarship is awarded through the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Library Aid Association Scholarship Committee has the privilege of reviewing the applications and making recommendations.

The 2022 recipient of the Patricia Thomas-Jeanig Scholarship Foundation granted by through the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is Andrea Dieuliis. Dieuliis is attending Simmons University School of Library and Information Science at the Mt. Holyoke Campus. She plans to graduate in May of 2022.

01/02/2022

MLAA Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients for the 21/22 Academic Year
Fall Semester 2021
Vanessa Calouro
Kylie Baker
Nichole Daviau
Jeffrey Henry
Catherine Miller
Jennifer Runyan
Jessica Wright
Spring Semester 2022
Andrea Dieuliis
Maille Black
Katherine Celeste Rimer
Jennifer Runyan
Aila Colburn
Kyle Coston
Carla Howard
Kimberly Ketcham

MLAA awarded a Staff Development Grant to the Blackstone Public Library, Lisa Cheever.