Wessler Scholarship contributions have been received in memory or in honor of:

Carol Ruth Wessler - 1st WVLS Reference LIbrarian
Wayne Randolph Bassett - 2nd WVLS Director
Mabel "Mickey" Weik - WVLS Office Manager
Richard Korzilius - WVLS Trustee
Susan Stoddard - WVLS Trustee
Dorothea Krause -1st WVLS Director
John Tobakos - WVLS Trustee
Leon Lewis - WVLS Trustee
Carol Boron - WVLS Trustee
Elizabeth Scully - former WVLS employee
Raymond Ott - WVLS Trustee

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Application Form

1. Applicant Information:

A. Name: ___________________________ B. Position: _________________

C. Employer: _____________________________________________________

C. Address: _____________________________________________________

D. Phone: ________________________ Fax: _________________________

email: ______________________________

2. Please attach a copy of the announcement of the activity for which you are requesting Wessler Scholarship funds.

3. Using your own words, please explain: (a) what you expect to learn or gain from attending the activity cited in #2 above, and (b) how you plan to make use of the information you learn in your daily employment. (Use additional sheet, if necessary)

4. Please indicate the amount of scholarship money you are applying for and explain exactly how it will be used. (Use additional sheet, if necessary)

5. Read and sign the "Agreement" following this sheet.

WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SERVICE

CAROL RUTH WESSLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

AGREEMENT

Responsibilities of Applicant:

1. Request Wessler Scholarship application form and general information from the Wisconsin Valley Library Service office.
2. Complete and submit the application form early enough to allow the WVLS Board/Executive Committee time to act in accord with the procedures as outlined on the "General Information" or "Agreement" sheets which are a part of the application packet.
3. The applicant understands that, prior to release of scholarship funds,
   1. he/she is expected to pay for the activity first and that the scholarship award will be a reimbursement
   2. he/she is expected to submit a written report of the activity and copies of receipts which document expenses for this activity to the WVLS office within thirty calendar days of attendance.

Responsibilities of WVLS:

1. Send scholarship application forms and general information upon request.
2. Review applications at regular monthly Board/Executive Committee meetings and announce decisions to applicants within two weeks of any meeting at which scholarship action is taken.
3. Release the scholarship award to the applicant within thirty calendar days of receipt of applicant’s written report AND applicable receipt/s.
4. Announce that the applicant has attended the event as a "Wessler Scholar" and that the applicant is willing to respond to questions about the activity from other library staff in the WVLS area.

I, _____________________, as an applicant for scholarship funds from the Wessler

(Signature of applicant)

Memorial Scholarship Fund, have read the scholarship fund information, and I hereby agree to abide by the applicant responsibilities set forth in this agreement.

_______________________

(Date)

___________________________________

(Signature of Board Officer) (Date)

WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SERVICE

CAROL RUTH WESSLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

GENERAL INFORMATION

 PURPOSE:

The moneys in this fund are to be invested as a special fund, the earnings of which are to be disbursed for the purpose of providing financial assistance for continuing education opportunities in the areas of reference, referral and interlibrary loan services for personnel employed by WVLS libraries.

As long as the applicant can describe how their attendance is likely to improve their ability to perform the reference/referral and inter-loan tasks currently assigned to them, their application will be given serious consideration by the WVLS Board of Trustees and/or its Executive Committee. Topics which could be considered for Wessler funding might include (but are not limited to) the following: reference skills, reference materials, referral patterns, inter-loan procedures/protocols, collection development, book selection, personal improvement such as how to communicate more effectively, supervisory skills, office efficiency, most Internet and computer skills sessions, space studies in current or new facilities, etc.

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS:

The WVLS Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee shall have full discretion as to who is to be the recipient of Wessler Funds and as to the procedures employed for application of said funds.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

Applications may be submitted at any time. Applicants are cautioned to apply early enough to allow the Board/Executive Committee time to act in accord with these procedures. Application forms will be provided, upon request, to interested applicants. These forms will request the following information:

1. name, address and position of applicant
2. name of applicant’s employer
3. copy of continuing education activity announcement
4. statement explaining what the applicant expects to gain from attendance at the activity and how he/she plans to make use of the information learned
5. statement of the amount of scholarship money being requested and exactly what it will be used for.

WVLS/APPLICANT AGREEMENT:

Prior to release of funds, the applicant and WVLS will be expected to sign an agreement indicating:

…that the applicant understands that he/she will pay for the continuing education activity first and that the Wessler scholarship award will be a reimbursement.

…that the applicant understands that he/she will be expected to file a written report of the activity with the WVLS administration within thirty calendar days of attending the activity.

…that the applicant understands that he/she must furnish a copy of all applicable receipts and/or bills.

…that the applicant is willing to share what he/she learned with others in the system area. This "sharing" might be accomplished by the inclusion of their written report in the LAMPLIGHTER; allowing system staff to send people with questions on that subject to the people who have attended that meeting; speaking at system workshops, etc. … whatever seems appropriate.

This agreement will also state the responsibilities of the WVLS Board and Executive Committee in regard to this scholarship program.

BOARD/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - REVIEW PROCESS:

The WVLS Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee will act as the review committee for all scholarship applications.

The Board/Executive Committee will take action on scholarship applications at regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

The WVLS Board/Executive Committee will decide whether to fund the total request, part of the request, or none of the request and will notify applicant of its decision, and reason/s for same, within two weeks following the Board or Executive Committee meeting at which the action was taken.

DISPOSITION OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS:

Gifts made to the scholarship fund will be invested in an appropriate manner to earn as much interest as possible for periods of up to one year.

Once each year, the investment earnings (interest) will be withdrawn from the investment account and deposited in a separate account to provide immediate and on-going access to these scholarship earnings throughout the year. At the discretion of the WVLS Board/Executive Committee, any or all of the scholarship funds may be reinvested with the principle.

CHANGES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS:

While every effort will be made to keep the application procedures and regulations as uncomplicated as possible, the WVLS Board of Trustees and/or its Executive Committee retain the right and responsibility to alter these procedures and regulations as experience with this program and availability of funding dictate. Any significant changes will be announced in the LAMPLIGHTER.

Last Updated February 18, 2008