Scholarships

We always want to help our members grow and expand in their profession; but, unfortunately, we can’t always bring everything to your doorstep. That’s why we have scholarships! If we can’t bring it to you, then we can send you to it! If you would like to attend a conference or some other kind of special training that SWFLN does not yet offer, you can apply for a scholarship.

SWFLN will award scholarships to staff from member libraries. The scholarships will partially subsidize the cost of attending a workshop or conference not offered by SWFLN. These scholarships will enable individual member libraries to benefit from specific learning targeted for their organization. Once the scholarship recipient returns from the event, a Statement of Benefit will be completed by the recipient and will be shared with the SWFLN membership so that this program can be promoted as a positive way to obtain alternate training and learning opportunities through SWFLN. The Statement of Benefit will address how the scholarship will enable the recipient to serve his/her library and how it will enhance patron satisfaction; the recipient will be asked to state how, as a result of this award, his/her knowledge or abilities increased, and how what the recipient learned can be useful to other types of librarians.

**Please submit your application at least one month prior to your event to allow for processing and mailing of your check.**

Applications are due January 31, 2023

Who May Apply

SWFLN institutional member staff are eligible to apply for SWFLN Continuing Education Scholarships.

Application and Funding Process

Applicant Instructions: 

  1. The applicant will complete a Scholarship Application Form, indicating the justified need for the request. A statement describing how this attendance will benefit the member will be included; the staff member will agree to write a Statement of Benefit of the experience, should it be approved, so that it can be shared with the SWFLN membership.
  2. The staff member will obtain approval from the applicant’s supervisor.
  3. The Scholarship Application Form will be sent to the SWFLN Continuing Education Coordinator.
  4. If the scholarship is funded, once the scholarship recipient returns from the event, the Statement of Benefit will be shared with the membership (via email and then placed on the SWFLN website) so that this program can be promoted as a positive way to obtain alternate training and learning opportunities through SWFLN.

SWFLN Procedures:

  1. Upon receipt, the SWFLN Continuing Education Coordinator will evaluate the form for completeness and to ensure that criteria are met for scholarship qualification.
  2. The Continuing Education Coordinator will obtain the Executive Director’s approval.
  3. Once the Scholarship Application Form is approved, the staff member will be notified of the award and payment will be issued for the Scholarship.
  4. After the staff member returns from the event, the SWFLN Continuing Education Coordinator will ensure that the Statement of Benefit is obtained so that it can be shared with the membership to promote this scholarship program as a positive way to obtain alternate training opportunities and learning opportunities through SWFLN.
Download Scholarship Application

Past Recipients

2019

Name: Kristy Kilfoyle
Institution: Canterbury School
Statement of Benefit

Name of Recipient: Walt Johnson
Institution: Monroe County Public Library, Islamorada Branch
Statement of Benefit

2018

Name: Danny Hussey
Institution: Sanibel Public Library
Statement of Benefit

Name: David Petersen
Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University Library
Statement of Benefit

Name: Natasha H. Hayes, M.L.S.
Institution: Hendry County Library Cooperative
Statement of Benefit

2017

Name: Candy Heise
Institution: Sanibel Public Library
Area of Focus: Collection Development Through e-Resources

Name: Duane Shaffer
Institution: Sanibel Public Library
Area of Focus: Digipalooza

Name: Kristy Kilfoyle
Institution: Canterbury School
Area of Focus: AISL: Independent School Section 

Name: Deanna Evans
Institution: Sanibel Public Library
Area of Focus: Summer Reading and School Partnerships

Name: Lisa Illum
Institution: Keiser University
Area of Focus: FLA Library Leadership Roundtable

2016

Name: Marge Cox
Institution: Golden Terrace Elementary
Area of Focus: Authors and Libraries

Name: Kari Doucette
Institution: Palmetto Elementary
Area of Focus: Makerspaces and Digital Culture

Name: Cletus Poser
Institution: Fort Myers Beach Public Library
Area of Focus: Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves

Name: Kristy Kilfoyle
Institution: Lee County Library System
Area of Focus: Building Library Spaces

Name: Adriana Jenkins
Institution: Monroe County Public Library
Area of Focus: Washington Library Association Annual Meeting

Name: Karen Alderson
Institution: Archimandrite John Memorial Library
Area of Focus: Connecting People Through Stories

Name: Linda Dunn
Institution: Lee County Library System
Area of Focus: Storytelling

Name: Rachel Cooke
Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University
Area of Focus: Building a Structured Mentoring Program For Organizations of All Sizes

Name: Hana Brown
Institution: Charlotte County Library System
Area of Focus: Targeting Youth Populations

2015

Name: Guy Cicinelli
Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University
Area of Focus: Libraries and Librarianship

Name: Mary Vollmer
Institution: Canterbury School
Area of Focus: The Library and the Academy

Name: Alyssa Diekman
Institution: Lee County Library System
Area of Focus: Technology and Marketing in Libraries

Name: Kelsey Bates
Institution: Lee County Library System
Area of Focus: Children’s Programming

Name: Daniel Perez
Institution: Collier County Public Schools
Area of Focus: Integrating Technology and Literacy

2014

Name: Jay Dela Cruz
Institution: Hodges University
Area of Focus: Technology in Libraries

Name: Sarah Brown
Institution: Lee County Library System
Area of Focus: Leadership and Management

Name: Michael Rodriguez
Institution: Collier County Public Library
Area of Focus: Transformative Technologies

Name: Roberta Reiss
Institution: Collier County Public Library
Area of Focus: Literacy

2013

Name: Lindsey Wharton
Institution: Florida Keys Community College
Area of Focus: Libraries Taking an Active Part in the Social Narrative

Name: KT Brill
Institution: Collier County Schools
Area of Focus: Using New Technologies to Engage Readers and Encourage Students

Name: Kayce Austin
Institution: Charlotte County Library System
Area of Focus: Youth and Technology