WLA Scholarship Home

WALE Library Paraprofessional Scholarship

Up to $1000 to a current library paraprofessional and WALE member toward participation at a local or national library-related conference, workshop, or educational event.

Scholarship Forms

Applications for the 2023-2024 WLA Scholarship cycle are now available! Scholarship winners will be notified by Aug. 31 and announced to WLA membership the week following.


How to Apply

Complete the online WLA Scholarship Application and attach to it and/or send separately to [email protected]:

  1. Your current resume
  2. Two letters of recommendation, with at least one from someone who knows your work, such as a supervisor, advisor, teacher or professor. Please refer to the Scholarship Recommendation Form for further instructions.

The application and ALL materials must be sent by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be eligible for consideration.

Scholarship Requirements

  • Applicants must be individual Washington Library Association members and members of WALE.
  • Scholarship recipients are required to share the outcome of or information about the results of their scholarship by choosing one of these responses: 
    • prepare a piece for WLA publication 
    • present at a WLA conference, event, or workshop, either a session or a poster for Spotlight on Success

Selection Criteria

These criteria will be used by the WLA Professional Development Committee to evaluate applications:

  • Current membership in the Washington Library Association.
  • Demonstration of potential for leadership in the profession and commitment to libraries and library service.
  • Benefits of the scholarship
  • Need and desire for the scholarship
  • Current or previous involvement with WALE, or plan to be active in WALE during the academic year in which the scholarship is awarded; examples: serve as intern to Alki editorial committee, contributor to Alki, student liaison to WLA Board, active in WLA Division or Section or committee, involvement with WLA, WLA conference, or WLA-sponsored workshop.