Four Indianapolis Public Library (IndyPL) employees have been awarded the newly launched Lillian Childress Hall Scholarship in honor of the state’s first Black librarian.
The scholarship is designed to support the educational advancement of library staff members from underrepresented backgrounds. The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation established the scholarship through the support of community donors.
The recipients are:
- Khalia King, public service associate at the East 38th Street branch
- Cori Miner, administrative assistant in the library’s programming department
- Catrina Barnett, processing assistant II and team lead in the library’s collection management service area
- Emily Gralak, public services associate at the Michigan Road branch
The scholarship provides $1,500 annually to help cover the costs of Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Science program expenses. Recipients enrolled at Indiana University-Indianapolis will receive an extra $500 in tuition remission each semester from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
“I am filled with an immense amount of gratitude at this moment,” King said. “I have spent the bulk of my life seeking higher purpose and fulfillment. I feel that I have truly found my calling in pursuing librarianship. Receiving this award brings a great amount of joy and honor to me and to those who have walked this life before me so that I can get here, such as the great Lillian Childress Hall.”
Hall began her career as Indiana’s first Black librarian in 1915 at the segregated Cherry Street Branch in Evansville. She brought community outreach to the forefront of her work, organizing events and providing resources for children.
In 1920, Hall moved to Indianapolis where Ku Klux Klan activity still ran rampant. Hall managed the Paul Larence Dunbar Branch and later led the library at Crispus Attucks High School for 29 years. During her time, Hall committed to expanding collections by and about African Americans, earned national recognition and left a lasting legacy.
“We are proud to support a new generation of library professionals who embody the same dedication and vision that Lillian Childress Hall exemplified,” said Gregory A. Hill, CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library. “Diverse perspectives enrich the services we offer — from the books we select to the programs we create for our community. I look forward to seeing the impact our scholarship recipients will have on our community and beyond.”
For more information about IndyPL and to make a donation to the scholarship, visit indypl.org.
To read more education stories, click here.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
 employees have been awarded a scholarship in honor of the state’s first Black librarian.){kind=link}