KU News Release

Librarian funds new graduate study award

LAWRENCE — A gift to the University of Kansas Libraries will support graduate study in librarianship.

KU’s Slavic Collection Librarian Geoff Husic is funding the $1,200 annual award to honor his parents and draw students with language skills into the academic realm.

“There's recently been a renewed recognition of the strategic importance of these languages,” said Husic. “There is a concern that other areas such as business and governmental agencies have begun to draw these kinds of talent away from academia. We really need that kind of expertise.”

The recipient of the award will be announced in May. It is intended for current KU students who have been accepted to graduate programs in librarianship. Preference will be given to those whose primary interest is in foreign-language librarianship and area studies and who can demonstrate in their essays their intent to use their knowledge of less commonly taught languages in their library careers.

The application deadline for the Carl and Margaret Husic Award to Support Librarianship in Less Commonly Taught Languages is April 1. To learn more about the award or download an application, visit the KU Libraries Web site.

The gift will be managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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