New Members


Candidates for membership in Xi Chapter are nominated by the LIS Faculty on the basis of the following criteria:


  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher the semester before graduation
  • Be in the top 35% of the graduating class
  • Demonstrated service to the profession, LIS Program, and fellow students
  • Demonstrated professionalism and leadership potential in the profession
  • Passed the oral exam or successfully completed an ePortolio in your final semester
  • Have no LIS course grade below a "B-minus"

If selected, you will receive an invitation to join Beta Phi Mu during your final semester in the LIS Program. To accept the invitation, you must complete a membership application (available on the national website Forms page) and provide two cheques: one for $85 payable to "Beta Phi Mu" to cover the one-time initiation fee to the national organization, and another for $25 payable to "Xi Chapter, Beta Phi Mu".


Send your membership application and both cheques to:

Library & Information Science Program (BPM)
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library
2550 McCarthy Mall
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822


Alumni who graduated during the years when Xi Chapter was inactive (1999-2005), may apply if they meet the following criteria:

  • Had a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher (out of a 4.0 scale)
  • Be in the top 35% of their graduating class
  • Have a faculty recommendation
  • Demonstrated service to the profession, LIS Program, and fellow students.

Note: many of our records of students who had sufficient GPA were lost in the October 2004 flood of Hamilton Library. If you graduated prior to December 1, 2005, you need only meet the GPA requirement and have a faculty recommendation to apply. When applying, please include a photocopy of your UH transcript along with two personal checks (one for $85 made to "Beta Phi Mu" and one for $25 payable to "Xi Chapter, Beta Phi Mu"), and the membership application to: Library & Information Science Program (BPM), University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library, 2550 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822


Please see the FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions about membership requirements and the initiation ceremony.