Fellowships, Scholarships, and Awards

Because of the thoughtful philanthropy of IU alumni and supporters, IU Libraries has the unique opportunity to recognize outstanding student research and support impactful experiential learning. 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. 

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.  Please contact the Lilly Libary for more information.

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. 

Recipients of the Oppliger Award

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.

Application and Information Page

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.

Information and Application Page

Recipients of the Burgess Award

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

Instruction for applying to the IU Libraries Undergraduate Scholarship and other Indiana University scholarships are found on the Office of Scholarships webpage.

 

Fellowships

The Carla Funk Health Information fellowship is a paid, one-semester internship with the IUScience’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.

Information and Application Page

Funk Fellowship Awardees

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

Recipients of the Craig Fellowship

IU Libraries Beverly Railsback Fellowship for Library Engagement is a paid, two-semester opportunity ($5,000) for a Bloomington graduate student of any school.  In addition to fellowship funds, it comes with a required hourly job with IU Bloomington Libraries' Communication Department.  

The goal of the Fellowshipis to amplify the work of librarians and library staff working in the Wells Library while also providing an experiential learning experience that financially supports a graduate student. 


The 2023-2024 Railsback Fellowship opportunity will focus on digital content creation. Apply by August, 2024 for best consideration.

 

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.

Information and Application Page

Recipients of the Jay Information Literacy Fellowship

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.

Jorgensen Fellowship Awardees

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.

Nomination Page

Recipients of the Engs Library Angel Award

This award was named after the esteemed William Evans Jenkins, the chief librarian of Indiana University from 1904 –1921.  The Jenkins award was presented to many celebrated librarians, nominated and recognized by their peers.

As of the 2023-2024 school year, this award is no longer available. 

Recipients of the William Evans Jenkins Award

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. 

Recipients of the White Award