The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has awarded Bernice Meja the Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship to attend the ARL President’s Institute 2024. The scholarship was established in 2015 to honor the memory and extend the legacy of longtime ARL staff member Julia C. Blixrud. Generous donations to the Julia C. Blixrud Memorial Fund support the scholarship.
This year’s Blixrud Scholarship recipient, Bernice Meja, is a first-year master of science in information science (MSIS) student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Bernice is a 2023–2024 Spectrum Scholar and serves as the Makerspace graduate assistant at the Kenan Science Library at UNC. In this role, she offers comprehensive support, technical guidance, and creative problem-solving assistance to patrons. Bernice specializes in operating various equipment, such as 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and embroidery machines, catering to user needs. Her previous experience as a college advisor was dedicated to enhancing access to higher education within a rural North Carolina high school. Bernice actively aided students throughout the college application and financial aid process, fostering her passion for user experience, particularly focusing on underrepresented groups. This journey inspired her profound interest in advocating for inclusive user experiences.
The theme of the 2024 ARL President’s Institute is “Embracing Sustainability—Libraries Leading the Way.” The institute will be held in San Diego, California, on Thursday, February 8. As part of the scholarship, Bernice will write a summary of the event.
About the ARL President’s Institute
The annual ARL President’s Institute explores content driven by the president of the Association of Research Libraries. The institute rotates among the geographic regions of the Association to provide greater opportunities for participation by member institutions and others in our field without requiring extensive travel. The President’s Institute is the evolution of the event previously known as the Fall Forum.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of research libraries in Canada and the US whose vision is to create a trusted, equitable, and inclusive research and learning ecosystem and prepare library leaders to advance this work in strategic partnership with member libraries and other organizations worldwide. ARL’s mission is to empower and advocate for research libraries and archives to shape, influence, and implement institutional, national, and international policy. ARL develops the next generation of leaders and enables strategic cooperation among partner institutions to benefit scholarship and society. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
