Madison Public Library Foundation awarded the 2023 Elizabeth Moon Proctor Scholarship to Melissa Ernst, a Library Assistant in Youth Services at Central Library.
With previous experience at Epic Systems and as a Library Assistant at Sequoya Library, Ernst’s interest in library science was sparked during the pandemic. Challenges surrounding information literacy inspired Ernst to pivot career paths.
“In pursuing librarianship as a second career, I am not only engaging with my community, but to start connecting people with information,” Ernst said.
In addition to working at Central, Ernst is finishing a master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Established in memory of Elizabeth “Betsy” Moon Proctor, the scholarship fund encourages and assists Madison Public Library employees planning careers in library and information studies. Betsy enriched and enlivened Madison Public Library from 1967 until her retirement in 1996.