Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program

1. Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program Sponsored by the American Library Association, the ALA-Allied Professional Association, and the Western Council of State Libraries Funded by IMLS

2. LSS – More information? • Website; http://www.ala-apa.org/lsscp • Karen Strege kstrege@msn.com 206 829 8821 206 407 9756 (cell) • Nancy Bolt nancybolt@earthlink.net 303 642 0338 303 905 9347 (cell)

3. LSS Certificate “I want recognition that my job is important, that my work is valued, that I am valued as a human being. This is more important than money. I want to be trusted that I will do what I’m paid for. I need pride in myself and my job.” Suzanne Mahmoodi and Kathleen Weibel, Paraprofessionals: What Are They Doing? What Are the Trends? How Do They Get to A Desired Future; A Report of Focus Groups (unpublished, 1991).

4. Why is Certification Needed? 69% of all library staff are library support staff In a national survey LSS said they * • supported national certification (87%) • supported national LSS standards (76%) • believe certification would improve public service (66%) *Survey conducted by the ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) in 2004

5. Benefits of Certification Maryland & Minnesota Surveys • Managers and LSS report library users are better served by staff with certification. • LSS believe they understand library service better. • LSS report more confidence serving users. • Managers report that LSS contribute more to operations & success.

6. Why LSS Are Interested From November 2008 LSS survey: • Recognition for experience, education, and/or skills • Learn new things about the library field • Provide better service to library users • Contribute to improvement of the library

7. Brief History of Project • After years of discussion . . . • Awarded IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant, July 2007 – June 2010 • Advisory Committee, staff appointed • Managed by ALA-APA

8. Program Approved! July 13, 2009 by ALA Executive Board Also by: • Public Library Association • Assn. of College and Research Libraries • Assn. of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies • Assn. of Library Collections and Technical Services • Library Leadership & Management Assn. • Reference & User Services Assn. • Library Support Staff Interest Round Table

9. PROGRAM BEGINS !! January 2010

10. LSSC Features: • Affordable and Accessible • Not a guarantee of raise or promotion • Establishes national, basic standards of LSS competency • Self Supporting

11. More LSSC Features: • Evaluates prior learning and new learning • Portable from state to state • Reciprocal at state level (if approved by state) • A mix of required and elective competencies • A valid assessment of competencies

12. Competency Sets Required • Foundations of Library Service • Communication and Teamwork • Technology Electives • Access Services • Cataloging and Classification • Collection Management • Reader’s Advisory Services • Reference and Information Services • Supervision and Management • Youth Services

13. Example 1: Foundations of Library Service Library Support Staff will know: 1. The mission and roles of a library in its community and the mission of libraries in general. 2. The ethics and values of the profession, including an understanding of the Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Code of Ethics, freedom of information, confidentiality of library records and privacy issues. 3. The roles of Library Support Staff and other staff in libraries. 4. The responsibilities of and the relationships among library departments or functional areas.

14. Foundations (cont’d) 5. Basic principles of: • reference and information services; • circulation, including interlibrary loan and collection maintenance; • current cataloging and classification systems; • acquisitions and collection development.

15. 6. How libraries are governed and funded and the place of libraries within organizations or government structures. 7. The value of cooperating with other libraries to enhance services. 8. The value of participating in professional development opportunities, including certification, continuing education, staff development and professional associations.

16. Foundations (Cont’d) Library Support Staff will be able to: 9. Practice quality customer service. 10. Communicate and promote the library’s values and services to staff, volunteers, users and the community. 11. Recognize and respond to diversity in user needs and preferences for resources and services.

17. Eligibility Requirements • High school education or its equivalent • One year of library experience, from any type of library

18. Certification Requirements • Must complete six competency sets out of 10 • Must complete the three required competency sets • Candidate achieves a competency set by completing an approved course or submitting a portfolio • Once a set is achieved, candidate need not complete it again

19. Assessment Methodology • Recognize prior learning and new learning • Two methods: • approved courses • portfolios

20. Course Approval Process • Any course provider can apply • Application process at www.ala-apa.org/lsscp • Applications will be reviewed in a timely manner • Goal to have providers in every competency by January 2010 • Application fee • $100 for the first two courses • $50 for each additional course

21. Portfolio Assessment Method • All material submitted online • Subscription to portfolio system with registration • Portfolio manual and training being developed • Train portfolio evaluators

22. Portfolio Development Suggestions • Suggested activities for demonstrating each competency • Can choose a suggested activity or design own activities • Uploaded to portfolio when done

23. Portfolio Development Suggestions Competency 4: The responsibilities of and relationships among library departments or functional areas. Suggested Activities: • 4.1 Interview the manager in a library with many departments to find out how these departments interact to produce, distribute and help library users use information. Draw an organization chart of this library and discuss any changes that you would make in this organization. • 4.2 A teenager asks for help with a homework assignment on the civil rights movement and the election of Barack Obama as president. Describe how every department in the library contributes to helping this user. Describe the impact on the student and library staff if any of the library departments do not do their work.

24. Policies and Procedures • Candidates have four years to complete assessments • Fee is $350, $325 for ALA members • All submissions online • Certification is for four years • Renewal will be required but details TBD

25. Potential Assistance from Library Administration • Encouragement to participate • Financial assistance for the registration fee • Financial assistance for course fees • Time off to attend workshops and CE activities

26. Other Support Ideas • Allow interaction with you and other staff for assignments • Inform library board or higher ed administration • Recognize accomplishments • Give more responsibility as skills and knowledge increase

27. Next Steps • Field test all program aspects • Recruit participants and course providers • Develop support for candidates • Finalize all policies and procedures

28. WHY LSS Certification? National Certification is going to make a bigger difference than many folks realize. This portable standard of excellence will obviously benefit Support Staff. We are valuable assets to well-functioning libraries. This needs to be established beyond regional purviews. Linda Pierro, Library Support Staff

29. THE WEBSITE www.ala-apa.org/lsscp

30. LSS – More information? • Website; http://www.ala-apa.org/lsscp • Karen Strege kstrege@msn.com 206 829 8821 206 407 9756 (cell) • Nancy Bolt nancybolt@earthlink.net 303 642 0338 303 905 9347 (cell)