The Friends and Foundation of Albany Public Library is proud to award our very first Touhey Library Equity Fellowships to two Information Science students at the University at Albany: Seyvion Scott and Johnathan Mata.
Seyvion Scott, a Rochester native, has known all her life that she wanted to work in public libraries. Johnathan Mata comes from the the Bronx enrolled in Information Science thinking that it would be useful for a range of IT careers: He looks forward to learning more about public libraries through this fellowship.
The Touhey Library Equity Fellowship is offered to two African American students enrolled at the University of Albany currently pursuing a Master of Science in Information Science at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC). The fellowship program offers frontline library experience as Part-Time Library Assistants at the Central Branches of the Albany Public Library. The program was originally scheduled to launch in June 2020 but was delayed due to Covid-19 precautions.The Touhey Library Equite Fellowship is awarded by the Friends & Foundation of APL and is made possible thanks to a generous donation by the Carl E. Touhey Foundation.
“I am eager to gain experience as a library assistant in the Albany Public Library and look forward to my lifelong career as a public librarian,” said Seyvion Scott. Johnathan Mata stated, “I’m honored to receive this fellowship. It helps bring more attention to the importance of having access to information. Libraries are a hub for learning and should be inclusive to everyone. This gives me an opportunity to lead by example.”
