The Friends of the Seward Community Library are currently accepting applications for the annual Swetmann Scholarship.  Since 1978, the Friends of the Seward Community Library, have offered college scholarships to Seward area youth pursuing academic education or vocational training after high school. This scholarship opportunity is available to Seward-area students, between the ages of 16-21, who have been schooled in the Seward area for at least two years and carry a current library card. The scholarship is named for Viola Swetmann, the original founder of the Seward Library.
 
Applicants are invited to identify a passion or subject of interest that they would like to render into an original project that is created solely for this scholarship application inspired by information found within the Seward Community Library Museum. The project is intended to elicit the applicant’s connection to Seward’s unique history and resources through creative, personal expression. Projects are scored based on the number of resources cited, the depth of exploration, originality, clarity, and technical accuracy.  In years past, projects have included a creative historic quilt, clay vessels celebrating Rockwell Kent, historical poetry, and so on. 
 
The winning project will receive up to $1,500, dependent on the number of awards given. All
other qualifying and quality projects will receive $50. The deadline for submission is May 1,
2019. Details and an application can be found at www.friendsofsclm.org.
 
Seward Community Library Association (SCLA), a.k.a. The Friends of the Seward Library is a non-profit organization that exists to enhance literacy in our community by supporting the Seward Community Library services, programs and resources, preserving SCLA historical resources and providing educational opportunities through scholarships and other programs.  For additional information, please visit www.friendsofsclm.org.

Friends of the Seward Library would like to thank community for support of the Wish Tree Book program.  We reached our goal of 100 new books!

The 2018 goal set was for 100 new books for the Children’s, Young Adult (YA), and Junior shelves in the Seward Community Library Museum.  In years past, 40 to 60 books had been sponsored annually.

Funds are collected by SCLA, aka Friends of the Seward Library, (non-profit-501c3), and then they are sent to Ingram Publishing directly to a Seward library account.  The Library Museum staff choose the books for purchase and will place book plates showing the sponsorship information, if requested.  Sponsors can also request to be the first to check out the new books when they become available to patrons.

Special thank you to our new Wish Tree locations, Resurrect Art Coffee House, 320 3rd Ave, and the Alaska SeaLife Center, 301 Railway Ave, with the main tree location at the Library Museum.

On behalf of our Seward’s youth and SCLA, aka Friends of the Seward Library, thank you for helping us reach our goal!

Friends of the Seward Library, Board of Directors

www.friendsofsclm.org

Community is invited to Celebrate the Life of Kim Hughes, Saturday, Jan 19, 2019, 5:30 pm @ Alaska SeaLife Center. Kim served as Vice President and Treasurer of SCLA aka Friends of the Seward Library. Kim also, worked tirelessly to help raise funding for our new Library Museum facility. Her sudden passing November 9th, has saddened us all.