Shelagh Neary Mikulak Memorial Scholarship – Online Applications Open

April 23, 2024

On behalf of the Shelagh Neary Mikulak Memorial Scholarship for Leadership and Innovation in Library Sciences at the Calgary Foundation we request your assistance in promoting this scholarship opportunity for students pursuing a degree in the library sciences field. Please share this message with any students that may be eligible.

Applicant must:

• Be enrolled in a Library and Information Sciences or Library Technician program, (Certificate, Diploma, or Graduate degree) who demonstrates a passion for the library sciences field.
• Be in any year of study at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Provide one letter of reference.

Two awards at approximately $2,000, applied directly to tuition.

The deadline to apply is June 1 at midnight.

For the full award description, please visit https://calgaryfoundation.org/student-awards/.

Access to the application can be found through the Student Awards Online Portal by selecting ‘Apply Now’ under the award listing on the awards webpage. If there are any questions, please contact studentawards@calgaryfoundation.org.

About the Shelagh Neary Mikulak Memorial Scholarship for Leadership and Innovation in Library Sciences

By the age of 12, Shelagh Neary Mikulak had developed a unique passion for books and knew she wanted to be a librarian. She began her pursuit of librarianship by volunteering in her school library, and her conviction never wavered. She completed a B.A. in English (with Distinction) at the University of Calgary, followed by a Master’s Degree in Library Science at the University of British Columbia in 1978.

Shelagh proceeded to forge an exceptional career, becoming an expert in academic, business, and law libraries. She was a leader in the library community, an innovator in her field, and an inspiration to those she worked with.

Immediately upon graduation from UBC, Shelagh began her professional library career at the University of Calgary where she was one of Alan MacDonald’s cadre of feisty, opinionated and clever young go-getters. While she was involved in many U of C initiatives, the legacy she was most proud of was the creation of the Management Resource Centre in the business school at Scurfield Hall, which is now the Haskayne School of Business Library.

After 18 years at the U of C she was ready to seek new challenges and she headed downtown to Bennett Jones, one of Canada’s premier business law firms, where she provided energetic leadership. Sometimes willful and always passionate, she was supportive of her staff, providing them with mentoring and opportunities. As the National Director of Information Resources for Bennett Jones LLP, Shelagh led a team of ten in the creation of the BenNet intranet, the firm’s intranet which was recognized with the Nielsen Norman Intranet Design Award in an international competition.

Shelagh valued and respected the individuals she worked with throughout her career, mentoring aspiring and established librarians alike. As a long-standing and executive member of the Calgary Law Library Group, past president of the Special Libraries Association of Western Canada, and volunteer with the Canadian Library Association and Canadian Association of Law Libraries, Shelagh dedicated her time to encouraging the professional development of others in her field. In 2012, in acknowledgement of her formidable leadership abilities, the Calgary Law Library Group dedicated a Leadership Award in her name to be awarded annually.

In 2013 the Shelagh Neary Mikulak Memorial Scholarship for Leadership and Innovation in Library Sciences was created in Shelagh’s memory by her family.