The Scholarship was created in 1972 to honor and remember Edith B. Conover and Karl F. Wihtol, both long-time residents of Middletown Township and dedicated friends of the Library. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded 63 scholarships to qualified individuals, many of whom have become quite active in the information field.
Kim Rinaldi, Director of the Library, noted that there are a great number of career opportunities in academic, special libraries, and public libraries. For example, public libraries are no longer just books and audio-visual materials. Public libraries are cultural, educational, and informational centers. For the past several years, the New Jersey State Library has run programs across the State promoting the library profession. By offering the Conover-Wihtol Scholarship for 44 years, Middletown Township Public Library has shown its commitment to the library field through its support of those individuals seeking to enter the profession.
The Conover-Wihtol Scholarships are offered for a minimum of $2,500 to applicants possessing a bachelor’s degree or who are in the final semester of undergraduate studies. The applicant will be expected to provide evidence of acceptance for graduate work at an ALA accredited school of Library Science.
Additional information and application forms are available at the Reference Desk at the Middletown Township Public Library or by calling
732 671-3700 ext. 311. Completed application forms must be postmarked no later than August 10, 2016. Scholarship(s) will be announced after the August 17, 2016 Library Board of Trustees meeting.