At IU Libraries, we have the unique opportunity to recognize outstanding student research and support impactful experiential learning because of the thoughtful philanthropy of IU alumni and supporters. We are grateful to our donors whose generosity includes fellowships, scholarships, and awards that create a collaborative, exploratory environment for students to engage with our collections and build their professional toolkit in the information sciences and related fields. In addition, there are also awards that recognize the achievements of IU Libraries’ faculty and staff as they support the mission of IU Libraries.
The IU Libraries’ Development office facilitates the establishment of fellowships, scholarships, and awards, by working with donors who wish to direct their philanthropy to IU Libraries. The IU Libraries Scholarship and Awards Committee, an Administrative Committee under the auspices of the Bloomington Library Faculty Council evaluates proposals and nominations, and then selects and notifies recipients.
We invite you to explore the world of IU Libraries' awards. Discover the impact giving has on student researchers and employees.
Student Recognition and Support
The Lofton Family Student Employee Excellence Scholarship was created by a collective donation and endowment from family and friends seeking to honor the Tom and Betty Lofton Family.
Lofton Family Scholars are selected by the librarians, staff, and leadership of the Lilly Library through a nominations process. Recipients must be student employees of the Lilly Library.
The 2022-2023 Lofton Family Scholars are announced.
The Robert A. Oppliger Scholarship is given to an outstanding Libraries' graduate student employee, deserving of recognition and financial award. The head of Scholars’ Commons names one outstanding graduate student employee to receive this award each year. It is Dr. Oppliger’s wish to give scholarship monies to graduate student employees who work in the Wells Library Scholars Commons to support the area of academic services, reference, outreach, and programming. First preference will be given to students in the Department of Information and Library Sciences.
Safer Together is a donor-funded contest from IU Libraries Moving Image Archive inviting all students on the Bloomington campus to create a short, compelling video using IU's archival film footage. Through a juried competition, videos that meet stated criteria will win a prize of up to $2,000.
The short video topic is different every year, but all address safety on campus. Look for details each year on the IU Libraries Moving Image Archive webpage and the IU Libraries homepage. Deadline is in the spring.
The purpose of the Sam Burgess Undergraduate Research Award is to reward excellence in undergraduate research. Given to the student who shows evidence of personal growth and exceptional utilization of library resources, the Burgess Award is an esteemed accolade. Retired librarian Jo Burgess wanted to honor the memory of her son Sam, who was lost tragically too soon. Sam loved to read and explore. This award rewards such curiosity.
The Burgess Award recognizes exceptional undergraduate research projects by rewarding a student(s) who demonstrates extraordinary skill and creativity in the application of services and collections of IU Libraries. Undergraduate students are nominated by faculty members, or a proxy faculty member such as the Director of the Arts and Humanities Council. Applications and faculty nominations are available on the IU Libraries' website in mid-January and due in mid-March. Watch the Libraries' homepage to know when to apply. The work of previous applicants may be found at ScholarWorks.
This annual $3,000 scholarship and work program is offered to as many as 20 incoming IUB students per year who are current residents of the state of Indiana. This scholarship is open to all majors and will automatically renew for all 4 years, $3,000 a year, by maintaining a 3.0 GPA and working agreed upon hours.
The scholarship also comes with a required paid part-time job at IU Libraries for 10-20 hours a week. The number of hours is up to the scholarship awardee.
Requirements:
• Only for incoming freshman
• Must be from Indiana
• Must work within the IU Library system
How to apply:
To apply for the IU Libraries Undergraduate Scholarship Program go to the Award Management (BAM) system and perform the following --
• Get access to the online scholarship system by logging into One.IU.edu with your IU credentials.
• Search for scholarships.
• Select the IU Scholarships Blackbaud Award Management listing to begin the application process.
• Search for IUB-IU Libraries Undergraduate Scholars Program
Note: When you fill out a general application in BAM, the system will match you with all the scholarships you qualify for.
Fellowships
The Carla Funk Health Information fellowship is a paid, one-semester internship with the IU Science’s Library/Department. The recipient agrees to work 180 hours (approximately 12 hours per week) in the Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center (RHAC). The recipient will complete a project during the semester they have been awarded the fellowship. Junior and Senior level Undergraduates and Graduate Students in IUB Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering degree programs with current or previous course-work and/or projects focused in health-related fields are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will be taking a minimum of 6 credit hours. The Fellowship is advertised fall semester for spring semester.
This fellowship is a paid, one-semester internship with the IU Libraries' Reference Services Department. The recipient agrees to work 180 hours -- or 12 hours a week. They split their work time to the reference desk and a public services or research services project. Typically, applications are taken in the fall for spring semester.
This fellowship is dedicated to E. Craig Lingle, who worked in the IU Libraries from 1926 to 1973. He is best known for being the Head of Reference Services.
Information and Application Page
The Jay Information Literacy Fellowship is a paid fellowship with the IU Bloomington Libraries' Department of Teaching & Learning. This fellowship is for one graduate student who has an interest in public services and/or instruction librarianship, with a specific focus on information literacy in the contexts of teaching, learning, and pedagogy (in-person and online). The fellowship is for one year with the potential for extension for a maximum of two years. Incoming ILS students are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is made possible from a gift by mother and daughter donors, Hilda and Ellen Jay, who wish to further the teaching of information literacy.
Applications and interviews are done in the spring for the following year.
The IU Libraries Moving Image Archive (IULMIA) offered the Jorgensen IULMIA Fellowship to graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in film and media preservation and archiving through a generous donation from Jane Jorgensen.
As of 2024-2025 this award is no longer available.
IU Libraries' Staff Awards Funded by Donors
This honors a full-time librarian or staff member in the research collections for exemplary service “beyond the call of duty.” Dr. Ruth Engs, Professor Emerita at the Indiana University School of Public Health, graciously funded the Angel Award to reward those IU Libraries' staff who support the work of faculty and instructors. The Angel Award has become an honor the IU Libraries looks forward to each spring.
Candidates are nominated by faculty or graduate students early in the spring semester. A winner is chosen and announced in late April. If you have questions, contact Libadv@indiana.edu.
This award is named after the esteemed William Evans Jenkins, the chief librarian of Indiana University from 1904 –1921. The Jenkins award may be presented annually to a current or former librarian(s) on the Bloomington campus, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Indiana University Libraries or to the library profession in general. While eligibility for the award is limited to former and current Bloomington campus librarians, nominations may be made by any member of the Indiana University community. Outstanding Bloomington Library Faculty colleagues deserve recognition and appreciation. Nominations for this award may be submitted individually or jointly. Nominations are gathered at the beginning of the spring semester with the award being given in late April/May.
Herbert White served as dean of the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) from 1980 to 1990. He gave his gift in hopes of widening professional development opportunities within the IU Libraries system.
As of the 2023-2024 school year, this award is no longer available.
For the many friends of IU Libraries, it is the pervasive impact of libraries that inspire giving. Whether supporting new collection acquisition, Lilly Library rare book conservation, student scholarships, library places of connection, or endowed librarian positions, supporters recognize the powerful, intentional way libraries reach all students and scholars.
~From the 2016-2018 Annual Report
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