The Montana State Library is pleased to announce that 17 Montana residents will receive full scholarships to pursue either a master's degree in library and information science or school library media endorsement credentials.

Nancy Coultas, a library aid at Superior High School, was one of seven selected to begin work on the school library media endorsement this fall Montana State University. She received $4,320 in scholarship money.

"I'm very excited," Coultas said. "This will give me the opportunity to go back and work in the classroom."

Coultas said that the scholarship covers 80 percent of tuition and books. The 21 credit program is all online. Coultas said she should finish next summer. She is taking six credits this fall, six in the winter and then nine next summer.

The scholarship money is being distributed as part of a regional three-year grant known as SWIM, as it consists of a formal partnership between four states-South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The objective of the grant is to recruit and provide IMLS-funded scholarships to educate 50 librarians and school library media specialists from throughout the region to work in rural communities.

The scholarship money is provided through a competitive grant, funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services' "Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century" program."

"The goal of the SWIM program is to increase the number of librarians in Montana who have obtained their master's degree in library science or achieved their endorsement in school library media," said Darlene Staffeldt, Montana State Library. "As technology advances and the amount of available information increases, professional level librarians will be absolutely vital to Montana residents and students to help them access and learn how to access information."

The SWIM advisory committee, comprised of residents from all states involved, recommended that 50 scholarships be funded. South Dakota has 14 scholarship recipients, Wyoming has 12 scholarship recipients, Idaho has seven scholarship recipients and Montana has 17 scholarship recipients.

"The scholarship advisory committee was very impressed by the qualifications and enthusiasm of each of these scholarship recipients," said Staffeldt. "We congratulate them and wish them well as they train for careers as professional librarians."

Through its statewide programs, the Montana State Library empowers Montanans, enhances learning in families and communities, builds 21st century skills and provides opportunities for civic participation. For more information about the SWIM grant please visit http://msl.mt.giv or contact Sue Jackson, Library Development Consultant at the Montana State Library by calling 406-444-5350, or email her at [email protected].

The following Montanans also received the scholarship: Jennifer Crisman of Great Falls; Debra Denowh of Sidney; Joelfre Grant of Ronan; Kris Keller of Kalispell; Nancy Lunday of Helena; and Michelle O'Rourke of Great Falls.

All recipients will begin work on the school library media endorsement this fall either at the University of Montana or Montana State University, and should finish the program by 2012, and then assume a school library position for at least two years in a SWIM state.