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It is the intent and purpose of this program to enable and encourage academically talented Delawareans to pursue careers as librarians and archivists in the public libraries, public school libraries, state agencies and political subdivisions of Delaware.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Legal residents of Delaware.
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens..
  • Academic record, community service, and financial need are considered.
  • Must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the application deadline
  • Full- or part-time students in an ALA-accredited master’s degree program of library and information science. Preference given to current employees of a public library, county department library, public school library, or state agency library or archive.
  • Awards will also be considered for a program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree or a doctoral degree for current employees who have worked at least two years at a Delaware public library, county department library, public school library, or state agency library or archive.

Award:

  • Loan not to exceed cost of tuition, mandatory fees, and other direct educational expenses
  • Renewable
  • Loan forgiveness provisions at a rate of two years of qualifying employment for graduate students and one year of qualifying employment for undergraduate students for each year of loan. Qualifying employment is employment as a librarian or archivist in a public library, public school library, state agency, or political subdivision in Delaware.

Deadlines:

  • The priority deadline to receive all application materials is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013.
  • Applicants who apply after the priority deadline will be considered to the extent that funding is available.
  • Must file the FAFSA prior to the application deadline

Master's Degree Applicants and Delaware Library Employees Doctoral Degree Applicants:
You can apply online beginning December 3, 2012, by completing the Common Merit Application on DHEO's secure Student Account Access site at https://dheo.doe.k12.de.us/dhec_student/login.aspx. First-time users must establish an account and provide a valid email and mailing address before proceeding to the application. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. You must provide all of the required information:

  1. Completed application, including activities
  2. Essay of no less than 1,000 and no more than 1,200 words, excluding headings and footnotes. Word count will be verified.
  3. College Grade Release Form must be submitted directly from your college to the Delaware Higher Education Office. Students are responsible for ensuring that their school provides this form by the deadline.
  4. FAFSA filed before deadline

Delaware Library Employees Undergraduate Applicants:
To apply, please download a copy of the application. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. You must provide all of the required information:

  1. Completed application, including activities.
  2. Essay of no less than 1,000 and no more than 1,200 words, excluding headings and footnotes. Word count will be verified.
  3. If you have less than 12 college credits, your High School Academic Record Report & Transcript Request and your high school transcript must be submitted directly from your high school to the Delaware Higher Education Office. Students are responsible for ensuring that their school provides these forms by the deadline.
  4. If you have 12 or more college credits, your College Grade Release Form must be submitted directly from your college to the Delaware Higher Education Office. Students are responsible for ensuring that their school provides this form by the deadline.
  5. FAFSA filed before deadline.
  6. Employment Verification Form (page 5 of application).