Canberra, 13 April: ALIA Member Kaley Schelks, Library Public Program Delivery Officer at Ipswich Libraries, is the recipient of the inaugural Charlotte Henry Study Grant. This annual grant is for an ALIA Member who is studying for a Masters qualification in library and information science through an ALIA accredited education provider.
Kaley is in her final year of a Masters of Information Management at the University of South Australia. Throughout her years of study she has received numerous academic excellence awards, been a student mentor and was placed in the top 1% of Queensland in the STAT exam (for admission to tertiary study).
Kaley will use the grant to support her current Masters (and possible PhD!) research. “I am currently working on my thesis which is examining the value of programming in Australian public libraries. I feel privileged to work within the library sector and am so honoured to have been awarded the Charlotte Henry Study Grant.” With an additional interest in accessibly and inclusivity for marginalized cohorts such as people with special needs and First Nations people, Kaley will examine first-hand the impact of programming within such communities and will pivot her research from an online format to in-person, including travel to Indigenous Knowledge Centres in remote Queensland communities. The grant was established and is supported by Kevin Sullivan and family in memory of the late Charlotte Henry and her commitment to public libraries and research.
“As a Programming Librarian at Ipswich Libraries, I am passionate about developing innovative and engaging programming” said Kaley. “I hope to honour Charlotte’s memory with an equal passion for the work of public libraries. My Library mentor once said to me that public library programmers have a calling, and I truly believe that this is true.”
About the Award The Charlotte Henry Study Grant is annual grant for an ALIA Member who is studying for a Masters qualification in library and information science through an ALIA accredited education provider. It commenced in 2022 thanks to the support of Kevin Sullivan and family. Applications for the 2023 round will open later this year.