Delaware News

Governor Signs Bill Creating Ada Leigh Soles Librarian Scholarship

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Tuesday, October 18, 2011



Former Newark legislator was tireless advocate for libraries

Newark – Stressing the need to attract and retain Delawareans to serve as librarians, Governor Jack Markell and legislative leaders celebrated the creation of the Ada Leigh Soles Memorial Professional Librarian and Archivist Incentive Program, named after the former Newark legislator and champion for Delaware public libraries who passed away June 7, 2010.

Governor Markell signed House Bill 153, which revises an existing scholarship program for library and archival professionals seeking their master’s degree to also allow scholarships for library and archives staff seeking a bachelor’s degree or a doctoral degree.

The scholarship is named in honor of the late Rep. Ada Leigh Soles, who represented Newark in the Delaware General Assembly from 1980 to 1992. She was a member of the Friends of the Newark Library, chair of the New Castle County Library Advisory Board, chair of the Delaware Council on Libraries, and a Delaware delegate to the 1991 White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services.

“Ada Leigh Soles was a woman of great conviction and one of the things she was passionate about was libraries,” said Markell, a Newark native who has known Soles and her late husband, Dr. James R. Soles, for decades. “Each of us knows how libraries have helped us grow, learn and explore throughout our lives. With new technology, librarians are on the cutting edge as much as anyone else. This scholarship program will help Delaware libraries retain and attract strong library science professionals.”

Ada Leigh Soles received the Delaware Library Association’s Distinguished Service Citation in 1985 and was named in 2000 to the American Library Association’s Honor Roll of Library Advocates. She passed away last year at the age of 73.

Rep. Terry Schooley, who represents the same 23rd District that Soles did, was the lead sponsor of HB 153.

“Ada Leigh was a wonderful, wonderful lady. The residents of Newark and library users across the state owe so much to her. The Friends of Newark Library are here to show their support and acknowledgement of Ada Leigh’s lifetime of work,” said Rep. Schooley, D-Newark. “I am honored to be able to recognize her with this bill. I think it is a fitting tribute to a tireless advocate who dedicated her life to improving the quality of our public libraries.”

“It means so much to me to be a sponsor of this bill,” said Senator Liane Sorenson (R )-Hockessin. “I am not surprised Ada Leigh got her start here. This means a great deal that we have this scholarship for undergraduates to pursue a career in library science.”

Under the program, awards may be provided for a course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree prior to the master’s degree and/or a doctoral degree following the master’s degree. Awards will be limited to people who have been employed at a Delaware public library, county library, public school library or state agency library or archive for a minimum of two years.

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Governor Signs Bill Creating Ada Leigh Soles Librarian Scholarship

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Tuesday, October 18, 2011



Former Newark legislator was tireless advocate for libraries

Newark – Stressing the need to attract and retain Delawareans to serve as librarians, Governor Jack Markell and legislative leaders celebrated the creation of the Ada Leigh Soles Memorial Professional Librarian and Archivist Incentive Program, named after the former Newark legislator and champion for Delaware public libraries who passed away June 7, 2010.

Governor Markell signed House Bill 153, which revises an existing scholarship program for library and archival professionals seeking their master’s degree to also allow scholarships for library and archives staff seeking a bachelor’s degree or a doctoral degree.

The scholarship is named in honor of the late Rep. Ada Leigh Soles, who represented Newark in the Delaware General Assembly from 1980 to 1992. She was a member of the Friends of the Newark Library, chair of the New Castle County Library Advisory Board, chair of the Delaware Council on Libraries, and a Delaware delegate to the 1991 White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services.

“Ada Leigh Soles was a woman of great conviction and one of the things she was passionate about was libraries,” said Markell, a Newark native who has known Soles and her late husband, Dr. James R. Soles, for decades. “Each of us knows how libraries have helped us grow, learn and explore throughout our lives. With new technology, librarians are on the cutting edge as much as anyone else. This scholarship program will help Delaware libraries retain and attract strong library science professionals.”

Ada Leigh Soles received the Delaware Library Association’s Distinguished Service Citation in 1985 and was named in 2000 to the American Library Association’s Honor Roll of Library Advocates. She passed away last year at the age of 73.

Rep. Terry Schooley, who represents the same 23rd District that Soles did, was the lead sponsor of HB 153.

“Ada Leigh was a wonderful, wonderful lady. The residents of Newark and library users across the state owe so much to her. The Friends of Newark Library are here to show their support and acknowledgement of Ada Leigh’s lifetime of work,” said Rep. Schooley, D-Newark. “I am honored to be able to recognize her with this bill. I think it is a fitting tribute to a tireless advocate who dedicated her life to improving the quality of our public libraries.”

“It means so much to me to be a sponsor of this bill,” said Senator Liane Sorenson (R )-Hockessin. “I am not surprised Ada Leigh got her start here. This means a great deal that we have this scholarship for undergraduates to pursue a career in library science.”

Under the program, awards may be provided for a course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree prior to the master’s degree and/or a doctoral degree following the master’s degree. Awards will be limited to people who have been employed at a Delaware public library, county library, public school library or state agency library or archive for a minimum of two years.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.