The Plainfield Public Library has announced that two of its staff members, both Plainfield residents, have been awarded scholarships from the New Jersey State Library under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.  Library Assistant Audrey Samuels is enrolled in an A.A. degree program through Thomas Edison College, and Library Associate Janice People is enrolled in the M.L.S. degree program at Rutgers State University.

Janice, Audrey and Library Director
Joe Da Rold

The scholarship program is designed to increase minority and bilingual staff in New Jersey’s urban public libraries. In all 25 scholarships were given to public library staff members around the state to continue their education leading to advanced degrees.

Plainfield Public Library Director Joe Da Rold noted that one of the goals of the grant program was to recruit new librarians and paraprofessionals to work in the state's urban libraries.  He expressed admiration for his staff members for taking on this scholastic challenge while still working. 

A unique aspect of the program is that the staff members are given release time
to study and attend classes, while the library is given funds to fill those missing work hours.  All scholarship winners are committed to work in their home library
or another urban library for two years after completion of their degree.

State Librarian Norma Blake noted that New Jersey libraries are committed to assuring the quality of library services to all New Jersey residents. “This scholarship program helps to provide the well trained professional staff needed to serve the patrons of New Jersey’s urban libraries in the 21st century,” stressed Blake.

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program is supported by the New Jersey State Library and is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency whose mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. It is administered by the New Jersey State Library in collaboration with Rutgers University School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Thomas Edison State College, Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and the New Jersey Library Association.