Announcing: BIPOC Membership Scholarships

 Librarianship is an overwhelmingly white profession.  This, as the ALA Member Demographics Survey from 2017 demonstrates, does not seem to be shifting despite efforts promoting diversity and inclusion within our profession.  This fall, the WLA leadership retreats included a session focused on anti-racism and how we as an organization can start dismantling the systems that uphold racism.  While this is not something that will happen overnight, WLA is committed to taking steps to address systemic racism within WLA and Librarianship.


As the School Library Division committee chair and a white woman, I recognize that my efforts to add diverse titles to my collection and make all students feel welcome, seen, and valued, is not enough.  We need diverse voices in our profession, and we need to encourage our BIPOC colleagues to be part of our professional organization.  


Your ScLD Leadership Committee believes strongly that it is time for change, and that we must begin taking steps toward realizing that change.  One small step toward welcoming more BIPOC educators to embrace School Librarianship as a profession is to remove barriers to WLA membership.  We want to send a message welcoming diverse voices into our membership, and we want to invite BIPOC individuals to explore School Librarianship through WLA ScLD membership at no cost to them.


In that spirit, we are pleased to launch our BIPOC Membership Scholarships.  We have 20 memberships, open to any BIPOC Teacher Librarian, School Library Paraprofessional, Reading Specialist, Teacher, or Administrator in Washington State, at no cost.  Scholarships are first-come, first served and will be awarded on a rolling basis until all are used.


We need your help!  Please share this information with your colleagues and administrators so that we can reach potential members.  If you have a BIPOC coworker who is curious about Teacher Librarianship or who is passionate about literacy instruction, invite them to try WLA for a year as one way to learn more about our profession.  


The scholarship application is now open, and can be found here.  


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