Help a future librarian attend graduate school at LSU!
Donation protected
I am a library assistant looking to take the next step in my career by earning my master's degree in library and information science. I want to be a librarian because I want to connect people to the resources they need, whether it’s finding the right book, providing instruction on a new technology, or organizing an event that culminates a sense of belonging, I want to be a part of the magic that emanates the moment you step through those library doors.
Why you should consider donating:
- I am a first generation college student who graduated with honors and a 3.7 cumulative GPA from the University of Southern California.
- I have over six years of experience working in the service industry and two years of library experience as a library assistant.
- I believe in the freedom to read and will work day in and day out to defend it.
- Funds will go directly to paying my graduate tuition. I have chosen to attend one of the more affordable ALA-accredited MLIS programs, with tuition totaling $555/credit hour. At 36 credit hours, the entire program will cost just under $20,000.
A bit about my journey up until this point: I have a background working in hospitality and during the pandemic decided to shift gears and pursue librarianship. I want a career that allows me to utilize my customer service skills in a field I am passionate about.
I first started working in libraries as a volunteer at the Pitkin County Library in Aspen, Colorado. I decided to leave Colorado at the end of 2021 to pursue library opportunities elsewhere. At the start of 2022, my father unexpectedly passed away and I found myself moving back home. With my two youngest sisters still in high school, and my mother suddenly a single parent, I decided to move back to my small hometown in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to help my family through this difficult time. Job opportunities in this area are limited, but I have been fortunate to find work as a library assistant and have been working in libraries ever since.
I have been accepted to graduate school and am currently accepting donations to help make this goal a reality. I would appreciate any donation, big or small, and would also appreciate you sharing my fundraiser with others.
For anyone unfamiliar with the world of librarianship, many full time librarian/library jobs require a master's degree in library and information science (MLIS). I am currently applying for scholarships through the ALA and through my university directly, but those will only cover a portion of my program and won't be announced/awarded until later this year. Until then, I am going to be emptying my savings, penny pinching and working tirelessly on scholarship applications in order to begin my program as soon as possible.
If you would like alternate ways to donate to my cause, please reach out. I appreciate you taking the time to read through my fundraiser page.
Thank you.
Organizer
Mikayla Aviles
Organizer
Gladstone, MI