Grants

Since our founding, Friends of SMU Libraries has been committed to helping the Libraries maintain excellence. We have funded over $1.5 million in library materials, books, electronic resources, equipment, and services. The Grants Committee meets annually to award grants to benefit all of the SMU Libraries.

Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship

The Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded annually. Named in honor of SMU Libraries staff member Jalesia Horton, the scholarship is awarded to full-time staff members and student library employees who wish to become librarians.

Apply for a Scholarship  

Student Employee Excellence Award

The Friends of SMU Libraries Award for Student Employee Excellence of $1,000 is awarded annually to two SMU Libraries student workers for excellent performance.

Nominate a Student Worker  

2024 Grants & Scholarships

$49,700 awarded

  • $25,000 to the SMU Libraries Internship program.
  • $5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
  • $5,000 to the DeGolyer Library for the purchase of photographs of minorities in the West.
  • $4,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support the ongoing student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts, for the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • $3,300 to Hamon Arts Library for a directional speaker system.
  • $2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for exhibition and programming expenses for the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • $900 to the Business Library for teaching supplies for experiential learning and gamification sessions.
  • $2,000 to SMU Libraries to support two SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This year's recipients are Lillian Nelson and Pavani Palla.
  • $2,000 to SMU Libraries to support the Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship. This year's recipient is Shruthi Hemasundar.

2023 Grants & Scholarships

$40,000 awarded

  • $12,250 to the SMU Libraries Internship program.
  • $12,250 to the Fondren Collaborative Classroom Renovation project to support updated technology.
  • $5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services and student funding for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
  • $3,000 to the DeGolyer Library for the purchase of minority photographs.
  • $3,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support a student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts, for the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 terms.
  • $2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for programming expenses associated with the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 exhibitions.
  • $2000 to SMU Libraries to support two SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This year’s recipients are Azeez Akande and Joy Morrow.

2022 Grants & Scholarships

$23,116 awarded

  • $5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services and student funding for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History project.
  • $3,266 to nCDS for the purchase of new Vestaboard digital signage for the libraries.
  • $2,500 to the Business Library to support student-facing needs during the upcoming relocation period and building renovation.
  • $2,500 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library for archival materials and supplies to support the preservation of two notable donations of film and film-related materials: the Jeff Gordon Collection and the Stephen P. Jarchow “Gods and Monsters” Collection.
  • $2,000 to Bywaters Special Collections at the Hamon Arts Library for professional framing and transportation costs of the Octavio Medellin drawing The History of Mexico, part of the Octavio Medellin Artwork and Papers.
  • $2,000 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library to cover gallery operating costs such as installation materials, installer fees, signage and print materials.
  • $850 to Fondren Library to print 2 large vinyl wall maps with oversized images of historic maps from the SMU collection for the GIS Lab.
  • $3,000 to SMU Libraries to support three annual SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards. Recipients are Aiden Egbuchunam, Lauren Horton and Jackson Malley.
  • $2,000 to Sierra Schuman, recipient of the Library School Scholarship Award.

2021 Grants & Scholarships

$12,397 Awarded

  • $3,000 to SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History project for transcription services and student funding.
  • $1,500 to Beatrice Downey, recipient of the Library School Scholarship Award.
  • $2,112 to the Business Library for dual monitor stations and relocation banners.
  • $2,000 to Bywaters Special Collections at Hamon Arts Library for the conservation of the Octavio Medellin drawing, The History of Mexico.
  • $1,785 to Hamon Arts Library for Steelcase white boards.
  • $2,000 to SMU Libraries for two annual SMU Libraries Student Worker Awards.

2019 Grants & Scholarships

$21,374 Awarded

  • $5,000 to SMU Archives to continue digitizing the Daily Campus student newspaper.
  • $5,000 to Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History project for transcription services.
  • $2,000 to LaGail Davis from Hamon Arts Library and Alison DeVries from Fondren Library, recipients of the Library School Scholarship Award.
  • $2,534 to Bridwell Library for a high-purity water filtration system for the conservation lab.
  • $2,280 to Underwood Law Library for library exhibits display materials for items from their rare book collection.
  • $2,000 to Bywaters Special Collections at Hamon Arts Library for the conservation of the Octavio Medellin drawing, Our Lady of the Seat of Wisdom.
  • $1,560 to the Business Library for monitors for group computer stations.
  • $1,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library in support of the acquisition of Stephen P. Jarchow’s film archive.

2018 Grants & Scholarships

$12,877 Awarded

  • $2,000 to Bridwell Library to support the purchase of Spanish Embroidered Binding – Novena a la serafica Santa Teresa de Jesus, madre y fundadora de la Sagrada Orden Reformada de Carmelitas Descalzas, y Descalzos. Por un devote de la Santa Madre. Zaragoza: por Juan Ibañez.
  • $1,000 to Kimberly Hunter from Bridwell Library for the Library School Scholarship Award.
  • $2,000 to Business Library for the purchase of a digital monitor for the quiet study area.
  • $2,000 to G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at the Hamon Arts Library for ongoing film repair and digitization equipment.
  • $2,000 to SMU Archives to continue digitizing the Daily Campus student newspaper.
  • $1,377 to Fondren Library for the purchase Pico Projectors and accessories for the Fondren Library Technology Lending Program.
  • $1,100 to Norwick Center for Digital Services (nCDS) to purchase components for a digital preservation processing station.
  • $1,000 to Underwood Law Library for the purchase of display materials for library exhibits of items from their rare book collection.
  • $400 to G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at the Hamon Arts Library for an opening exhibition reception.