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The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is pleased to announce the selection of Ana Soledad Santoyo of Chicago, as the 2024 recipient of the Julia J. Brody Public Librarian Scholarship.

The $4000 scholarship is awarded to individuals planning to specialize in the field of public librarianship.

Although she did not plan to become a librarian, Santoyo says “her early experiences and interests led her to a path of librarianship. It has become her dream to be a children’s librarian in a public library.” Her goal is to focus on literacy, as she “sees this as a civil rights issue of our time.” She intends to serve children in an “equitable, respectful, and intentional manner. It is a priority that cannot be taken lightly in the library profession.”

Currently Santoyo works as a children services and family engagement library associate at the Chicago Public Library. She says her “commitment to serve children in public libraries is unwavering.” She is ”proud to be a first-generation college graduate and hopes to be a role model for others who go to libraries and don’t see those who look like them as patrons, workers, or leaders in librarianship.”

Santoyo’s commitment to excellence, her collaborative nature, and competence has been acknowledged by her colleagues. In speaking of Santoyo, one reference commented that she is “an incredible asset to our team. She has proven herself to go above and beyond by making exceptional contributions through committee work, special projects, collection enhancement and programming. She is creative and driven to be an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. I know she is going to make an indelible mark in the world of librarianship. ”

Santoyo attends Syracuse University (New York).

The Julia J. Brody scholarship is made possible through a bequest from the estate of Julia Jussim Brody, who earned degrees at Hunter College and Columbia University’s School of Library Science. After working as a librarian at a military post during WWII, Brody spent the remainder of her professional career in various positions working at the New York Public Library.

For details and more information on this scholarship, visit the .

For information on other scholarships available through the ALA, visit our .

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ manages the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Scholarship Clearinghouse.