91´«Ã½

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) , a division of the 91´«Ã½ is proud to announce that Rebecca Van Scyoc of South Elgin, Illinois has been chosen as the first Century Scholar. Beginning in Fall 2000, Mrs. Van Scyoc will be a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The independently funded Century Scholarship is a diversity initiative that aims to promote the 91´«Ã½'s mission of improving service at the local level through the development of a representative workforce that reflects the communities served by all libraries in the new millennium. The Century Scholarship awards up to $2,500 annually to be used for accommodations or services not provided by law or the university, to a student or students with a disability pursuing a degree in library and information science. We are very excited to be awarding the Century Scholarship to Mrs. Van Scyoc who is an exemplary role model of scholarship, experience and community involvement and leadership. Mrs. Van Scyoc is dedicated, inspiring and well deserving of this scholarship," said Lisa Scholl, chair of the Century Scholarship Committee. Mrs. Van Scyoc has been working in the library and information science field for over ten years as a research and information consultant and is active in her community promoting disability awareness. Mrs. Van Scyoc volunteers at Canine Companions for Independence visiting schools and organizations to demonstrate hearing dog tasks to children and adults and explain how they help people with hearing impairments. She is also active in the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition, she volunteers her time at St. Patrick's School in the library. Currently she is an Information Consultant at Information Resources Consulting, Inc. Mrs. Van Scyoc will be purchasing a sound field system that will enable her to better understand discussions in the classroom and a computer-assisted notetaking system with the scholarship money. Mrs. Van Scyoc plans to use the skills and knowledge gained in the course of study for a Masters of Library and Information Science to develop and improve resource centers at schools and companies needing assista