Yee Wing Chan, a Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) student at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) was awarded the Music Library Association’s (MLA) 2022-23 Diversity Scholarship.

MLA is the professional association for music libraries and librarianship in the United States. Founded in 1931, it has an international membership of librarians, musicians, scholars, educators, and members of the book and music trades. MLA’s Diversity Scholarship is intended to support the pursuit of the master’s degree in library and information science by students from under-represented groups with the ultimate goal of increasing the representation in music librarianship.

“I am beyond grateful and humbled to have been selected for the 2023 Music Library Association Diversity Scholarship Award,” Chan said. “I owe much of my success to my work supervisor for guiding me through the application process. Also, my advisor at SILS gave me the confidence to apply for the scholarship. He constantly encourages me to take every opportunity I can that will enable me to succeed. I would not be where I am today without his immense support.”

Chan said her experience working in the UNC Music Library has supported the development of her skillset within music librarianship.

“As a first-generation minority college student, I remember the doubt I felt as I navigated my first semester of the library science program. However, my professors have helped me realize that I can achieve my academic goals and be part of the change I want to see in the library service environment,” Chan said. “Working as a graduate assistant at the UNC Music Library helps me develop the skills needed to succeed in the library profession, and there is not a day that goes by without using the knowledge I have learned at SILS.”

Through her work in music librarianship, Chan said that she hopes to foster an inclusive environment for students to learn and pursue their musical interests.

“My desire to become a music librarian comes from a passion for assisting others to learn. I hope to work in an academic music library, cataloging music scores and sound recordings, and expanding accessibility to information through technology. I envision myself creating a friendly and non-judgmental environment where students and faculty feel welcome and valued,” Chan said. “To help students reduce the barriers encountered in information seeking, I will guide them to effectively utilize research databases and work with them to identify, locate, and access appropriate materials for their research needs. In order to reach out to a diverse student body, it is imperative that my fellow staff members and I aid students in maintaining a sense of connection to their peers and professors. I plan to collaborate with the faculty to build and foster a reading community that will allow students to study and discuss music from different cultures.”

Chan is also the recipient of the 2023 Kevin Freeman Travel Grant, which is awarded by MLA to support travel to attend the 2023 Annual MLA Meeting in St. Louis. Learn more about MLA here: www.musiclibraryassoc.org

---