WE ARE QUEENS LIBRARY

Local 1321 2026 Scholarships and Book Award

Local 1321 is offering two scholarships and one book award to its members’ children and grandchildren to provide financial assistance towards higher education. Furthering one’s education provides an amazing array of benefits. However, the cost of higher education can make achieving that goal difficult, if not impossible. Local 1321 members recognize the challenges, and are pleased to offer two $2,500 scholarships to be awarded to two undergraduate students; and one $500 Kane Noel Memorial Book Award that will be awarded to the undergraduate student with the third highest score. The scholarships and book awards are open to members’ children and grandchildren who demonstrate high achievement in academics, community service, and good moral character.

To qualify, the applicant must be:

1. Child(ren)/foster child(ren)/grandchild(ren) of Queens Library Guild, Local 1321 member;
2. Enrolled for the 2026-2027 school year in a community college, college, university, or vocational-technical school accredited by a “nationally recognized” accreditor (or, for certain vocational institutions, approved by a recognized state approval agency). To check if your school is accredited, see https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn;
3. Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent;
4. And has not been a previous recipient of a Local 1321 Scholarship.

Applicants must provide: 

• Official and most current high school transcript and/or a current college transcript including all completed coursework.
• For recent high school or college graduates, a copy of acceptance letter from an accredited school.
• One personal, educational or professional letter of recommendation, documenting the applicant’s character, professional and/or academic strengths (no family members are allowed to write recommendations). All recommendation letters need to have a current date, and name of individual or organization.
• Select either (a) or (b) from the prompts below, and write an essay with a minimum of 1,000 words.  
  1. Please reflect on a time, when in the face of adversity or peer pressure, you stood up for something in which you believed. What did you stand up for and what did you learn from the experience?
  2. Please tell us about a time you volunteered or participated in community service and how this has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how this experience has influenced your future ambitions and career choice.

The requested documents must be submitted by June 30, 2026 using the online form, https://tinyurl.com/1321scholarship , or mailed in one packet, including the enclosed form, to: 

Queens Library Guild/Local 1321 Scholarship Committee

District Council 37

125 Barclay Street 

New York, NY 10007

Local 1321’s Scholarship Committee members will conduct a blind-review of the applications and notify applicants July 18, 2026.

If you have any questions, please call 718-779-0787 or email president@local1321.org. We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply. We look forward to awarding these scholarships and making higher education more attainable for Local 1321 members’ children and grandchildren.

In solidarity,

Local 1321 Scholarship Committee