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Begun Scholarship Award - 2007
CLA's annual Begun Scholarship for future youth services librarians has been awarded to Ben Gomberg, Teen Services Intern at San Jose Public Library's Educational Park Branch. Ben also serves as a Library Clerk at San Jose's Harker School, where he has provided library services for both middle and upper school students. Ben will be presented with the scholarship at the CLA Conference Awards Dinner in Long Beach on October 26, 2007.
Ben was born in Oakland, California. He attended Tufts University in Massachusetts, where he majored in and earned a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Literatures and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. After spending time in Spain, as well as the East Coast, Ben returned to California. He is currently attending San Jose State University School of Library & Information Science where he plans to earn his MLIS in 2008. He says he has never lived more than three blocks from a library.
The Begun Scholarship Committee was impressed with Ben's passion and commitment to and respect for the young adults he serves. In his essay, Ben stressed the positive contributions that young adults and libraries can make working together, "In a state where the socioeconomic and ethnic makeup of young people is far from consistent with the aging population it is more important than ever that young people be given the chance to be a strong, positive voice in their communities...There are language barriers to overcome, as well as prejudices of racism, class discrimination, and ageism. Libraries are one of the institutions equipped to overcome these obstacles...It is my belief that young adults have the ability to change the world...It is my greatest wish to help libraries guide and accompany this generation, and the one that follows it, as they become influential voices in their communities, and the world."
The Begun Committee congratulates Ben Gomberg and looks forward to watching the progress of his career as a Young Adult Librarian.
Submitted by Paula Weiner, Chair
CLA Begun Scholarship Committee 2007
Posted on September 17, 2007 1:58 PM | Permalink