The Fairfax Library Foundation awards four different scholarships to current library staff and volunteers in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax, subsequently enhancing the level of service the library can provide. To date, the Foundation has granted over $325,000 in scholarships.

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Staff Development (Online Application / Instructions and Paper Application)

(Deadlines: January 15, April 15, and July 15)

Eligibility: Current employees and volunteers of the Fairfax County Public Library, the Fairfax Library Foundation, or any Fairfax County Friends of the Library group.

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Scholarships of up to $1,500 are awarded for either advance funding or reimbursement for registration costs, lodging, meals, and travel-related expenses to attend seminars, conferences, lectures, workshops, adult education classes, certificate programs and college and university classes when not enrolled in a formal degree program.  

 

Applications are evaluated on the basis of the value of the event to the growth and development of the individual’s knowledge and skills, and support of library goals and objectives. The individual's length of employment and/or volunteer service is considered, as is their potential for future work and/or volunteer service in the Library or the Foundation.

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Since June 2002, 205 awards have been granted totaling $80,225.81.

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Undergraduate Scholarships: (Online Application / Paper Application/ Instructions)

(Deadline: January 15)

Eligibility: Individuals who live, work, volunteer, or attend school within Fairfax County or the City of Fairfax.

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Scholarships of up to $2,000 are awarded to individuals who have either applied to, been accepted at, or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate academic degree program; or to individuals enrolled in academic courses not necessarily part of a degree program.

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Applications are evaluated based on the individual's demonstrated academic achievements, achievement or potential achievement in a library atmosphere, and a letter of reference. Individuals with no library experience who are awarded scholarships will be required to complete between 10 to 40 volunteer hours in a Fairfax County Public Library, the Fairfax Library Foundation, or a Fairfax Library Friends group, depending upon the amount of the scholarship awarded, before the next scholarship deadline.

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Undergraduate scholarships were first awarded in April 2013, and 102 awards for a total of $131,600 have been granted.

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Graduate Scholarships (Online Application / Instructions and Paper Application)

(Deadline: April 15)

Eligibility: Individuals who live, work, volunteer, or attend school within Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax

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The Foundation awards merit-based scholarships once a year to well-qualified individuals who are enrolled in or been accepted into a graduate degree program in library science or a related field.

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Graduate scholarships were first awarded in July 2002, and 67 awards for a total of $189,000 have been granted.

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Post Graduate Level Staff Development

(Deadline: July 15)

Eligibility: Current employees of the Fairfax County Public Library system or the Fairfax Library Foundation who have already completed a master's degree.

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The Foundation awards merit-based scholarships to support the continuing education of employees who wish to obtain a post-master's certification or similar qualification.

 

This is the newest scholarship program founded in early 2015, and two awards have been granted totaling $2,647.