2017 Maureen Woods Education Bursary Recipient Announced

Released on May 5, 2017

The Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) has announced Chasity Berast as the recipient of the 2017 Maureen Woods Education Bursary.

Chasity received the award during a May 4 banquet at Elk Ridge Resort in Waskesiu to mark the 2017 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference, SLA’s 75th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the Mary Donaldson Lecture.

“This award is a strong acknowledgement of Chasity Berast’s academic achievements and devotion to the promotion of literacy in Saskatchewan,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Don Morgan said.  “I want to congratulate her for her commitment to teaching and ensuring that Saskatchewan’s future generations of library technicians are achieving their academic and career goals.”

“This year we had six excellent applications which the committee reviewed and debated to come to the final selection,” Saskatchewan Library Association’s Executive Director Judy Nicholson said.  “The recipient, Chasity Berast, is involved in the library community and contributes regularly to various SLA issues.  We applaud her efforts and are pleased to grant her the bursary.”

Chasity is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta’s Master of Library and Information Science program.  She is the program head for the Library and Information Technology program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, where she is also enrolled in their Faculty Certificate Program.

“People in Saskatchewan love their libraries,” Berast said.  “I also love my library and I know that libraries will always play an essential role in our province’s diverse communities.  I am very proud to be involved in a program that teaches future library technicians the skills they need to provide the services and programs that libraries offer.  Thank you to the Saskatchewan Library Association for this bursary and also for their ongoing dedication to Saskatchewan libraries.”

This past year Chasity was a committee member of the One Book, One Province initiative, a committee formed through various provincial partnerships.

The Maureen Woods Education Bursary was established in 2002 to promote the continued growth of professional librarianship in the province of Saskatchewan and is funded by the Ministry of Education.  The SLA provides a $5,000 bursary annually to a post-graduate student of an American Library Association accredited graduate degree program in library and information science or a related discipline.

More information on the bursary, including the criteria and application process, is available on the SLA web site at www.saskla.ca or by calling 306-780-9413.

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For more information, contact:

Chris Hodges
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: chris.hodges@gov.sk.ca

Judy Nicholson
Saskatchewan Library Association
Regina
Phone: 306-780-9413
Email: slaexdir@sasktel.net