Little-Known Library Offers Scholarship Help

And though its collection may not be as extensive as Davis Library's or its exterior as impressive as Wilson Library's, the Scholarship Resource Center located in Pettigrew offers a wealth of information for anyone who wants to learn more about outside scholarship options.

Created in the mid-1990s by the Office of Scholarship and Student Aid, the center is open five days a week and contains binders, books and Web resources detailing over 500 external scholarships offered by a plethora of organizations.

But perhaps the most valuable resource the center offers is the presence of three graduate students.

The students, from the School of Information and Library Science, are available to help students get started in their searches for scholarships.

"There's a myth that there's just tons of free money out there waiting for you and all you have to do to get it is fill out an application," said Kelly Overton, who runs the center along with Colleen Clancy and Kristen Miner.

"We try to demystify the process for people," Overton said. "It definitely takes time and planning."

But that need for long-term thinking hasn't hit many students, and as such, the center often doesn't get busy until the deadline for certain scholarships or financial aid forms draws close.

"(People) kind of come in waves," Miner said. "It's kind of all or nothing."

But whether one or 10 students visit the center in any given day, the staffers keep busy updating information on different scholarships, answering e-mails and giving referrals.

They also have begun keeping track of what students who use the center come in to look for, and Dan Thornton, senior assistant director for scholarship aid, said they are working on developing a database that will make it easier for students just beginning their research.

It's a big job, but it's one that offers a lot of hands-on experience for the three new librarians.

"We can see all the aspects of running a library but in a smaller, more manageable setting," Miner said during one slow Monday before Thanksgiving break. "And we all get along really well and enjoy working with each other. Well, except for Kelly."

"Yeah, I'm slack and lazy," Overton deadpanned.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door by a female student hovering outside the office.

"I don't know who I'm supposed to talk to, but someone sent me here to see about financial aid and study abroad," she said.

"Come on in," Clancy said, jumping up to help the girl. A binder was pulled out as Clancy began explaining the different scholarship and aid options available, stressing that applying is a "lengthy process."

Ten minutes later, the student thanked the librarians and left with some new information.

"For some it's a quick stop; others will come in and spend a couple of hours researching," Thornton said.

"We're a starting point," Miner said. "We have a lot of primary resources and show (students) the tools to start researching on their own."

But the downside to being that first point in the long process of applying for scholarships is that the staffers at the center often don't know how successful the people they aid are in the long run.

Maybe the student Clancy helped during that slow afternoon will end up getting a scholarship. Maybe she won't.

What's more certain is that if she -- or anyone else -- has more questions about the search for outside scholarships, the graduate students at the resource center will be there to help.

The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu.