New York Black Librarians' Caucus | Our Awards & Scholarships

Hoke & Gethers-Muhammad Memorial Scholarship

In 1980 the Donna Hoke Scholarship was established to encourage students of African descent to enter the field of librarianship.  The fund was named in honor of a young children's librarian at the Queens Borough Public Library who was active in the New York Black Librarians and other professional organizations.  At the early age of thirty, she succumbed to Hodgkin's disease.  The first scholarships were presented to two recipients in 1981.

In 2019 the scholarship was renamed the Hoke and Gethers-Muhammad Memorial Scholarship to honor the life of Taneya Gethers-Muhammad.  Mrs. Gethers-Muhammad was a children's librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library and active in the New York Black Librarians Caucus.  She was a strong advocate for those in need and worked in her community to help promote a positive self-image among the youth.  Mrs. Gethers-Muhammad passed away in 2017 at 37 years of age.

Qualifications

  1. Applicant must have completed at least 6 credits of an ALA-accredited MLS program before applying.
  2. The applicant must be a New York State resident.
  3. The applicant must be an NYBLC member.
  4. Officers of the New York Black Librarians’ Caucus Inc. are not eligible.
  5. Former applicants must submit an updated application.

Description

The scholarship will recognize a student of African American or African descent, currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLS program; and who has shown both an acquired proficiency in, and a strong commitment to the field of librarianship. Documentation in the form of an official transcript(s) and letters of recommendation will be requested.

Criteria to Judge Recipient

  1. Appropriate official transcripts of completed courses in an ALA-accredited MLS program.
  2. Two letters of recommendation support both the applicants’ competency and commitment to librarianship. Please have the recommender indicate their association with the applicant.
  3. An interview with the scholarship committee; in-person or via conference call. Interviews will be scheduled for mid-July.

Essay Guidelines

  1. Submission of a 500-750 word, typed essay about your aspirations in librarianship, including the following:
  2. Personal philosophy of the field of librarianship.
  3. Knowledge of the field of librarianship.
  4. Future goals in the field of librarianship.
  5. Specific involvement in organizations, library-related conferences, and/or publications, if any.

Award

  1. Up to two (2) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded during the fall semester.
  2. Applicants who do not receive the Hoke & Gethers-Muhammad Scholarship may be eligible to receive a NYBLC Book Award.

Expectations of Scholarship Winners

Winners of the Hoke & Gethers-Muhammad Scholarship must be willing to attend at least three (3) NYBLC meetings and/or join an NYBLC committee within one year of receiving the award.

Disbursement of Scholarship Awards

  1. Scholarship winners will be eligible to receive 50 % of the award upon being selected. Scholarships are generally awarded at an NYBLC meeting or annual event. The remaining portion will be disbursed upon fulfillment of the obligations described in the aforementioned “Expectations of Scholarship Winners”.
  2. Scholarship winner(s) must be enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLS program or show proof of graduation from an ALA-accredited MLS program to receive the balance of the award.

Send all applications to [email protected] 

Past Recipients

2023
Whitney Harrison 

2020
Rebecca Garcia

2019
Nicholas Caldwell

2018
Afiya Farrell

2017
Rebecca Rodd

2016
Annelisa Purdie

2015
Jhenelle Robinson

2014
Kim McNeil Capers

2013
Moddie V. Breland Jr.
Rhonda B. Evans

2012
Cheryl Branch, MD.

2011
Joyce LeeAnn
Cynthia Lovett

2010
Megan Goins
Denise Mclver
Dana Reed- Spoon

2008
Orisanmi Burton
Benita McCray
Shana Hitt
Shakema Miller Cyrus

2007
Roslyn Claytor
Edwin Maxwell*
Shawnta Smith

2006
Kimberly Reid
Lassana Magassa

2005
Evelyn Muriel-Cooper
Margaret J. Gibson

2004
Aneisa Joyce

2003
Kerwin Pilgrim
Dale Sims

2002
Sabrina Dixon
Christine Newman
Tonijala Penn

2001
Troy Bent
Anisha Huffman
Katherine Lillian Rodriquez  

1995
Tamara Jeanne Stewart
Medaline Philbert

1994
Vicky Hall
Andrew Jackson

1993
Linda Dunmore
Phyllis Hodges

1992
Deborah De Castro
Negla Ross-Parris

1991
Madeline Ford
Horace H. Harrison

1990
Lorna Rudder
Patricia Tooney

1981
Annette Bacchus Frazier
Irene Smitherman

NYBLC Andrew P. Jackson Support Staff Scholarship

The Andrew P. Jackson Support Staff Professional Development Scholarship

This scholarship is offered in recognition of 36 years of dedicated service to the library profession by Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), Director-Emeritus at Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. Past President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (2004-2006), Andrew is an Adjunct Instructor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College (CUNY) and the Black Studies Program of the History & Philosophy Department at York College (CUNY). He is also a Library Consultant/Advisor.

This scholarship is offered in recognition of 36 years of dedicated service to the library profession by Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), Director-Emeritus at Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. Past President of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (2004-2006), Andrew is an Adjunct Instructor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College (CUNY) and the Black Studies Program of the History & Philosophy Department at York College (CUNY). He is also a Library Consultant/Advisor.

The NYBLC, Inc. welcomes membership by any persons who work in the library profession, not solely MLS degreed librarians. This scholarship is created specifically for library support staff. The scholarship seeks to encourage library support staff to work towards and earn an undergraduate baccalaureate degree, in any discipline, from an accredited face-to-face or online academic program

Qualifications:

  1. The applicant must be enrolled in a 4-year undergraduate program at an accredited face-to-face or online academic institution and completed a minimum of 36 credits towards their degree.
  2. The applicant must be a New York State resident.
  3. The applicant must be willing to join the New York Black Librarians Caucus, Inc. and renew their membership for at least two years.

Criteria:

  1. Submission of a transcript from the enrolled accredited undergraduate program.
  2. Submission of a 500 word typed bio-essay introducing yourself and library background experience, your goal(s), and future aspiration(s) in the library profession.  Including two or three skills/talents, you can bring to NYBLC.
  3. Two (2) letters of recommendation that support the applicant’s competency and commitment to earning their degree.
  4.  An interview will be held with the scholarship committee; in-person or via conference call. Interviews will be scheduled after the application deadline. 

Award:
A scholarship award of a minimum of $500 up to $1,000 will be awarded during the fall semester.

Applicant must be willing to join the NYBLC and attend a minimum of 3 meetings during the year and/or join an NYBLC committee within one year of receiving the award.

The scholarship recipient may apply for a renewed scholarship with a new bio-essay indicating updated progress towards the degree and updated information on growth and aspirations in the library profession.

Past Recipients

2021

Jennifer Claxton 

2020

Moisella E. Long