Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 06 - Library Services
Rule 005.06.22-003 - Arkansas State Library Rules Governing Distribution of Scholoarship Assistance-Revised
Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 005.06.22-003
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
1.00 REGULATORY AUTHORITY
1.01 These rules shall
be known as Arkansas State Library Rules Governing the Distribution of
Scholarship Assistance.
1.02 These
rules are enacted pursuant to the Arkansas State Library's authority under Act
489, Acts of Arkansas 1979, Arkansas Code Anno.
13-2-201 et
seq.
2.00 PURPOSE
2.01 It is the purpose of these rules to
formalize a process already in existence and set reasonable guidelines to make
scholarship assistance available to every public library in the state of
Arkansas to address the education needs of public library staff working toward
the ultimate goal of obtaining a master's degree in library and information
science as defined in 3.03. These rules are specifically for the purpose of
establishing standards for distributing funds available through the state aid
to public library fund administered by the Arkansas State
Library.
3.00 DEFINITIONS
3.01 ASL refers to the Arkansas State
Library.
3.02 ALA refers to the
American Library Association.
3.03
A master's degree refers to the educational award given by a library school
whose program is accredited by the ALA.
3.04 State Aid refers to State Aid to Public
Libraries
4.00 FOCUS AREA
4.01 To aid Arkansas public libraries in
employing master's degree librarians by providing educational opportunities for
public library staff members through traditional, on-campus or distance
learning.
5.00 ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
5.01 Scholarship funds will be
distributed to a public library that submits scholarship application to the ASL
Board. Priority will be given as follows:
1.
Public libraries eligible for State Aid whose personnel are employed as library
directors.
2. Public libraries
eligible for State Aid whose personnel are employed positions other than
library director.
3. Public
libraries not eligible for State Aid but recognized by the ASL as public
libraries.
5.02 The
applying institution (or its governing body) must be able to accept and
administer the scholarship on behalf of the employee. Applying institutions may
neither add to nor subtract from the scholarship eligibility requirements
imposed on the employee.
5.03
Individuals upon whose behalf the library is applying must meet the following
standards:
1. Unless employed as a library
director and granted a waiver from the ASL Board, show evidence of completion
of 12 semester hours toward the master's degree as evidenced by submitting an
official transcript.
2. Provide a
copy of the agreement with the public library concerning employment in a public
library for at least one year after completion of the master's
degree.
3. After each semester,
furnish proof of completion of coursework which shows the individual received a
minimum course grade (based upon an "A-F" grading scale), of "B", or if
applicable, a "Credit" for a credit/no credit course. "Incompletes" do not
qualify for reimbursement.
4. Show
evidence of conferral of degree by submitting an official transcript which
indicates the date of conferral.
5.
Agree to remain employed by a public library in the state of Arkansas for a
duration of one year upon completion of degree.
6. Complete all required coursework and
obtain the master's degree within three (3) years of acceptance to the
scholarship program. This requirement may be waived by written appeal to, and
approval by, the ASL Board.
6.00 ADMINISTRATION
6.01 The scholarship will be administered by
the ASL Board.
7.00 SCHOLARSHIP PROPOSALS
7.01 The proposals shall
include an application from the applicant library. The ASL Board shall review
the proposals for approval. Proposals shall be consistent with Arkansas Code
and existing ASL rules regarding an ALA accredited library program.
7.02 Funding may include but is not limited
to tuition, materials, travel, lodging, and other items associated with
educational costs.
7.03. Funding
shall not be provided for hours in excess of the required number for the
degree, nor for required courses not completed within the set number of hours
required for the degree.
8.00 DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
8.01 The ASL Board will budget and distribute
funds appropriated for each biennium from the Arkansas State Legislature
according to the following:
1. The total
amount of funds to be distributed will be determined by the ASL Board each year
at a minimum of 1% of the appropriated State Aid to Public Libraries.
2. Funds may provide as many scholarships as
are requested each year. All monies not disbursed shall be returned to the
State Aid fund for distribution.
3.
Funds may be disbursed to the applicant library at the completion of each
semester.
4. Funds will be
distributed via scholarship for each individual as identified by the ASL Board
in accordance with eligibility. Each scholarship will include a set of
assurances and provisions required in the eligibility standards.
8.02 The ASL Board reserves the
right to approve or deny any scholarship applications.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
