MLS student awarded for commitment to children’s library services

Sept. 10, 2026 — DENTON — Makalah Kesee, a Master of Library Science student, has been awarded an $8,000 Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarship from the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

Kesee is one of just four students nationwide selected this year for the scholarship made possible by Bound to Stay Bound Books Inc. The scholarship supports students preparing for careers in library service to children.

Her longstanding commitment to working with children made her a perfect candidate. Before becoming a membership engagement specialist for Girl Scouts of Central Texas in Austin, Kesee worked with children in various capacities beginning in 2016, including six years in early childhood education centers.

“Being able to continue that work means a lot to me,” Kesee said.

Although her work with Girl Scouts is community- and youth-focused, Kesee said it was her broader experience working with children that ultimately influenced her path toward library service. She wanted to discover how to help improve access to educational opportunities and information for young people.

Kesee initially thought she would become a teacher, but while completing her senior capstone research project on addressing educational inequalities through extracurricular programs, one word continued to stand out to her: access. That is when she discovered library and information science.

“The world of library and information science feels like magic to me, because so many information professionals arrive here from completely different backgrounds,” Kesee said.

TWU stood out to Kesee because of the faculty and their research. She said her experience in the School of Library and Information Studies has reinforced her decision.

“As an MLS student at TWU, I can attest that the staff and professors genuinely care about the work they do and about student outcomes. That's a program I'm proud to be part of,” she said.

Kesee also credits the School of Library and Information Studies with helping her discover the scholarship.

“I learned about it through the wonderful staff at the School of Library and Information Studies, who, fittingly, did exactly what librarians do: connect people with the resources available to them,” she said.

The scholarship will allow Kesee to concentrate more fully on completing her MLS degree. Rather than taking on another job to help finance her education, she was able to accept an internship with her city’s public library, where she is gaining experience working with teens. She also volunteers with two local literacy nonprofits.

“This scholarship has provided a level of accessibility I didn't have as an undergraduate,” Kesee said. “It gives me certainty that I'll be able to complete my degree and one day call myself a librarian.”

Wherever her career takes her, Kesee said she wants to help children discover the possibilities that books can open.

“I just want to share the wonder of books, because I deeply believe that all new possibilities start with a book,” she said.

Page last updated 1:41 PM, September 10, 2026