Money Matters

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) provides a limited number of scholarships for students pursuing a degree program on a full-time basis. FGS Scholarships are competitive and are awarded to incoming, full-time MI students on the basis of academic merit.

Shirley Burnham Elliott's mother was the first professionally qualified librarian in Nova Scotia. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Ms Elliott obtained her library science degree from Simmons College (Boston) in 1940. In 1954 Shirley became Nova Scotia’s Legislative Librarian and, during the following 28 years, transformed that library and its services into a modern research library. In 1985 Shirley was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from Dalhousie; in 2003 she was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia. The Shirley B. Elliott Scholarship is competitive and, is awarded to an incoming full-time MI student on the basis of academic merit.

The New Brunswick Award was created to support students, from New Brunswick, who are pursuing the MI or combined degree at Dalhousie University. The New Brunswick Award is competitive and is awarded to an incoming full-time MI student on the basis of academic merit.

A New Brunswick (NB) student is defined as an individual who declares a NB address on their application. Such an applicant will be an individual who was born in NB, or is a resident of NB, and/or completed high school or a university degree in NB.

The Diversifying Libraries Award was launched in 2021 to align with Nova Scotia Library Association’s commitment to action toward racial justice. In offering the scholarship, we hope to contribute to the diversification of the library field within Nova Scotia through supporting access and success of students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour.

The Diversifying Libraries Award provides one incoming student in the Master of Information program at Dalhousie University or the Library and Information Technology at Nova Scotia Community College with:

• an entrance scholarship, amount to be determined annually (minimum, $500; in 2021, the amount is $1000)
• an award certificate
• one-year NSLA membership
• one-year NSLA conference registration

Criteria: The sole awarding criteria for the Diversifying Libraries Award will be self-identification as an incoming student who is Indigenous, Black or a Person of Colour, with priority given to Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian students.

How to apply: If you self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or a Person of Colour and have been accepted into the Master of Information program at Dalhousie or the Library and Information Technology program at NSCC, you can apply. Applicants must submit their letter of program acceptance and a 500-word statement articulating why you want to be a part of the library community (by email to vice.president@nsla.ns.ca) 

Deadline: June 30th

Recipient will be notified by August 1 and the award will be presented to the applicant upon proof of registration.

For more information about the Diversifying Libraries Award, please contact vice.president@nsla.ns.ca

Application required.

Marie DeYoung (MLIS '80) was a dedicated library professional who had a passion for mentoring and inspiring students and new graduates. Recognized with numerous awards over her career, Marie had a life-long commitment to volunteering on behalf of the profession, including our alumni association. Many librarians and library technicians benefited from her wide range of senior level experience in government, college, and university libraries. Much of her career was rooted in the Maritimes but her influence was nationwide and beyond through her exemplary association leadership. This bursary was created to honour her memory by providing an annual bursary to one (or more) students entering the Master of Information (MI) program.

Eligibility

• One incoming MI student (possibly more than one, depending on interest/available funds).
• Must demonstrate financial need.
• First preference will be for a student from the Atlantic provinces.

Application

Submit a one-page statement of interest (max 500 words) to khumes@dal.ca. Statement must address the eligibility criteria above. No financial statements are required

Deadline

• June 1st

Background: The Scholar Program was launched in 2021. We developed it to align with Dalhousie’s commitment to admit, engage, support and graduate a more diverse student body, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented students and especially Black and Indigenous Students.

Our promise to support your potential: In addition to financial support, our advisors will provide academic and career support, including assistance in finding paid work during the program should you choose and career mentors to support your long-term career aspirations.

Criteria: The sole awarding criteria for the Promise Scholar will be an Indigenous or Black Canadian student, with priority given to Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian students.

How to apply: If you self-identify as Indigenous or African Canadian, you can apply. Applicants must submit a 500 word statement (by email to khumes@dal.ca) articulating the importance of diversity and inclusion in information management.

Deadline:

•     May 1st

For more information about the Scholar Program, please contact khumes@dal.ca. 

Student Assistants provide administrative and research support to one or more DIS faculty or staff members, up to a maximum of 60 hours per year (30 hours fall term/30 hours winter term). Normally 3-4 Student Assistants are hired each year, depending on the funding available.

Staff will send a call for applications in July or August annually. Applicants must be an incoming student in the Master of Information (MI) program in good academic standing. Full-time or part-time students are eligible. 

Application required.

Funded by AMSI, this bursary aims to provide assistance to incoming and returning MI students with good academic standing and proven financial need.

Eligibility

• One incoming MI student 
• One returning MI student
• Must be registered for fall and winter courses by August 15
• In good academic standing
• Proven financial need: Determined by completing the AMSI Bursary Application Form [PDF - 120 KB]

Application

• Complete Bursary Application Form (linked above)
• Submit Form to khumes@dal.ca evaluation.
• DO NOT send apps to the Program Director. Applicant identities must be kept anonymous from those choosing the recipient(s).  

Deadline

• August 15th

No application required.

The Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Scholarship provides support to incoming or returning graduate students who demonstrate leadership potential in information management, specifically in libraries. The award will be presented at the annual Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Lecture.

Eligibility

• Must be an incoming or returning MI student
• Must have an A-minus average (3.7 GPA)
• Must be registered for fall and winter courses by May 1
  
• Must show leadership potential in the field of information management in libraries

Obligations

Attend the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Lecture.

About Norman Horrocks

Dr. Norman Horrocks OC, PhD, FCLIP (1927-2010) began his career in libraries in Manchester England from 1945-1953, interrupted by three years in the British Army’s Intelligence Corps. He then worked in Cyprus, Western Australia, and Pittsburgh, PA before joining Dalhousie in 1971.

He became Director of the School of Library and Information Studies (later the School of Information Management, now the Department of Information Science) and was later Dean of the Faculty of Management. He left Halifax in 1986 to become Editorial Vice President of Scarecrow Press in Metuchen, NJ, where he also was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University, until he returned to Nova Scotia in 1995.

In 2006 Norman was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his lifetime devotion to library and information science.

Application required.

This award is funded by a bequest of the Estate of Lana MacLean. The purpose of the bursary is to support students who identify as first in family graduate students.

Eligibility

Must be a registered Master of Information (MI) student and:

• Demonstrate financial need
• Self-identify as being the first in family to attend graduate school.
• Preference will be given to a student who self-identifies as African Nova Scotian.

Application

Submit a one-page statement of interest (max 500 words) to khumes@dal.ca. Statement must address the eligibility criteria above. No financial statements are required.

Deadline

• Dec 1st

This prize, funded by the Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA), is awarded to the graduating student who, in the opinion of faculty, shows the most professional promise.

Beta Phi Mu is the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society established to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among library and information studies students. Candidates are nominated from the graduating classes of ALA accredited degree programs, and must have Grade Point Averages over 3.75.  Nominations may not total more than 25% of the class.

This prize is awarded by the Council of Nova Scotia Archives (CNSA) to a graduating student who shows the most promise and interest in the archival profession, both in and outisde the classroom. 

This prize is awarded to the graduating student (in the MI and MIM programs) with the highest academic achievement.

Awarded to the graduating student who has demonstrated leadership, agility and creativity connecting people to information through technology.

Two prizes are awarded annually to worthy international members of the graduating class, or to any other graduating students who have demonstrated a strong interest in, and commitment to, librarianship and information studies outside North America. If only one (or no) suitable candidates apply one (or no) award will be given. 

J. Clement Harrison contributed to library education in England, the United States, Wales, Canada, Jamaica, and Ghana. He came to DIS (then School of Library Service) in 1971, serving first as director and later as professor until his retirement in 1978.

The Louis Vagianos Medal, named for the first director of SIM, is awarded to a graduating student who combines the capacity for blending originality with practical thinking and the courage to seek solutions to professional problems outside the mainstream.

This prize is awarded by the Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA) to a graduating student with a high GPA and a demonstrated interest in Public Library work.

The Leadership award is given to a graduating student for significant service to the program and Department. This student has had a high level of involvement in the program's student, continuing education, and/or public relations activities.

This prize is awarded to the graduating student (in the MI and MIM programs) who has demonstrated significant success in research. The award is open to all students, not only those who complete theses.

The Outstanding Service Award is presented to a graduating student who has made outstanding contributions to student life by giving time to extra-curricular activities, helping others with technology, making thoughtful contributions in the classroom, and by demonstrating an ability to be a team player.

Graduating students are nominated by their peers. Although we encourage nominations for students who did not serve on the ISSA Executive, all graduating students are eligible.