Dr. Janette Baker Scholarship Fund
Background
Dr. Janette May Baker has left $50,000.00 to the Ontario Library Association to establish a scholarship in her name. The OLA Board of Directors has accepted the bequest and agreed to honour the conditions for the scholarship contained in her will. She has asked that the scholarship be used to encourage applicants for any formal full-time library qualification program.
Description
The Dr. Janette Baker Scholarship was established to encourage participation in a
formal full-time library and information science qualification program.
The Award is based on interest proceeds from the Dr. Janette Baker Scholarship Fund.
A minimum of $2,000 is guaranteed to the winning applicant by the OLA Board of
Directors. The maximum scholarship being offered in one year is $5,000. The winner(s)
of the scholarship will also be offered a 1 year complimentary student OLA membership.
A cheque will be made out to the library school of the winner(s) to ensure the funds are
directly applied to the successful candidate’s school tuition. This will be done prior to the
beginning of the September school term. OLA will require the candidate’s student ID
number to be included with the letter of award notice to the library school. This
information will not be shared with third parties.
Successful candidates must file a copy of the completed degree or diploma with the Dr.
Janette Baker Board for archive purposes.
There is also an expectation that the successful candidate will develop a paper for
publication during the course of the program being taken. OLA will hold the right of first
refusal for publication.
Criteria/Eligibility
- Candidates must have worked in Ontario outside the field of education for a minimum of three years prior to application.
- Candidates must be enrolling in a full-time library program in an Ontario university or college to which the award may be paid.
Application Procedure
- Candidates must complete the online application and include a statement of interest, resume, and proof of enrolment, such as an acceptance letter, in a single PDF file.
- The online application can be found at: https://accessola.com/funding-opportunities/ola-funds/
- Applications will be accepted between: February and May.
- The closing date for applications is end of May – exact date will be available on OLA Website
Selection Process
- Eligible applications will be assessed according to the criteria as above. The above noted conditions are subject to change from year to year.
- The OLA Awards Committee will deliberate the qualified candidates and present the winner(s) to the OLA Board at the June meeting.
- The presentation of the award is at the discretion of the OLA Awards Committee and is not necessarily presented on an annual basis.
Award Presentation
- The winner(s) of the scholarship will be announced via news release on the OLA website, social media, newsletter, the Annual Report, and other means.
- The winner(s) will be notified in advance of the news release.
- An award notice letter and cheque will be mailed to the successful candidate’s library school financial office by late July.
Donations to the Dr. Janette Baker Fund
Donations to OLA Dr. Janette Baker Scholarship Fund are tax deductible and can be made online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-library-association/ or
by cheque made payable to:
Ontario Library Association
Centre for Social Innovation, Suite 205
Toronto, ON
M5T 2C2
