College Scholarships Subscription Database

6.  College Scholarships Subscription Database Review

Type: Subscription Database Review (Scholarships)
Link: http://www.collegescholarships.org/
Ages: 15+

Overview: This website is good for high school aged teenagers who want to find scholarships that will pay for college based on various merits. This organization lists thousands of scholarships for high school students applying for college. They are scholarships from all over the nation.

Critical Evaluation: The library should add this to the online collection, as part of a link on the public library site for Young Adults.  The website is easy to use, however, students should be aware of the ads that can be deceptive and also have links for scholarships.  . These are sometimes located at the bottom or right side of the page and have scholarship links in blue block shapes.  Be careful and wary of these links because half are legitimate sites, but the other half want you to buy their 'information' for scholarships.

The useful portion of the website has some good links and information regarding scholarships.  No matter what your criteria, the user is able to look for scholarships based on Subject, by State or by Type.  Most of the useful links are located on the left side of the website so they are easy to locate.  

Booktalking Ideas: An idea for a book talk would be to highlight free money that students can receive if they spend some time applying for these scholarships.

Challenge Issues:

• None

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.