A Library Support Staff Certification Program LSSCP

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A Library Support Staff Certification Program
(LSSCP)

• Sponsored by the
• American Library Association
• ALA-Allied Professional Association
• Western Council of State Libraries

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More information?

• Website
• http//www.ala-apa.org/certification/supportstaff
  .html
• Karen Strege kstrege_at_msn.com
• 206 829 8821
• 206 407 9756 (cell)
• Nancy Bolt nancybolt_at_earthlink.net
• 303 642 0338
• 303 905 9347 (cell)

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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 Im 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  A Report of Focus Groups (unpublished, 1991).

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Why is certification needed?

• 69 of all library staff are library support
  staff
• 86 respondents supported national certification
• 76 supported nationally recognized LSS standards
  
• 66 think certification program would improve
  public service
• Survey conducted by the ALA Library Support
  Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) in 2004

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Benefit survey results

• Maryland and Minnesota Opinions on
• Support Staff Certification Programs
• High percentage of LSS and Library Managers feel
  library users are better served by staff who have
  completed the programs
• LSS believe they understand library service
  better
• High percentage of LSS feel they are more
  confident in serving the user
• Library managers feel LSS contribute more to
  library operations and success

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Why Should Support Staff Bother?

• Love of learning
• Proof of Accomplishment
• Move to new job
• Provides a goal

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Background

• 15 years of talk
• ALA COPE III focused on Library Support Staff,
  2003
• ALA2010 strategic plan calls for a national
  support staff certification program
• Library Support Staff Interests Round Table
  (LSSIRT) certification survey, 2004
• ALA Support Staff Certification Task Force formed
  in 2006

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Federal Grant

• IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant
• July 1, 2007 June 30, 2010
• Dr. Karen Strege and Nancy Bolt, project
  directors

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Grant Schedule

• Finalize competencies 2007-08
• Assessment program 2008-09
• Policies and procedures 2008-09
• Field tests 2009-10

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Advisory Committee

• LSSIRT
• Committee on Education
• Western Council of State Libraries
• ACRL
• ALCTS
• ASCLA
• LAMA
• PLA
• RUSA
• ALA-APA staff

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Desired Project Outcome

• To improve public and academic library service
  by offering to Library Support Staff a national
  voluntary certification program approved by the
  ALA, ALA-APA and participating units of ALA.

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LSSCP will

• Be individually based and voluntary
• Be portable from state to state, if approved by
  the state
• Not guarantee a raise or promotion
• Be a mix of required and elective competencies
• Establish basic standards of LSS competency
  nationwide

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LSSCP will

• Be affordable for candidates
• Be accessible
• Evaluate prior learning and new learning
• Use a valid assessment of competencies
• Have reasonable administration requirements
• Be cost-effective for ALA and ALA-APA

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Requirements for Participation

• High school education or high school equivalency
• One year of library experience, from any type of
  library
• Desire to obtain or validate library support
  staff competencies

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Audience for LSSCP

• Public and academic LSS are the focus for the
  content of the competencies and the program
  structure.
• Note to School and Special Library Support Staff
• School library support staff practice and
  professional development are often governed by
  state and federal laws outside of the LSSCP
  scope.
• School library support staff may individually
  elect to participate, but the knowledge and
  skills required by their work environment may
  not be reflected in LSSCP competencies.
• The Special Library Association (SLA) is a
  separate organization that is supportive, but
  whose membership is not a targeted audience.
  Staff may elect individually to participate, but
  the knowledge and skills required by their work
  environment may not be reflected in LSSCP
  competencies.

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First StepCompetencies 2007-2008

• Advisory Council drafted competency sets
• Draft sent to wide variety of library workers for
  comment
• 2,700 responses
• Competency sets revised and completed June 2008

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Preliminary Competency Areas

• Required
• Foundations of Library Services
• Communication and Teamwork
• Technology

• 3 Electives
• Access Services
• Readers Advisory Services
• Reference and Information Services
• Supervision and Management
• Technical Services
• Youth Services

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Sample Competency Set 1Foundations of Library
Services

• Library Support Staff will know
• The mission and roles of a library in its
  community and the mission of libraries in
  general.
• The ethics and values of the profession,
  including an understanding of the Library Bill of
  Rights, ALA Code of Ethics, freedom of
  information, and privacy issues.
• The roles of library support staff in libraries
• The responsibilities of and the relationships
  among library departments or functional areas.

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Foundations (contd)

• Basic principles of
• Reference and information services
• Circulation, including interlibrary loan and
  collection maintenance
• Current cataloging and classification systems
• Acquisitions and collection development

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Foundations (Contd)

• Library staff will be able to
• Practice quality customer service
• Communicate and promote the library values and
  services to staff, volunteers, users, and the
  community
• Recognize and respond to diversity in user needs
  and preferences for resources and services

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Sample Competency Set 2Technology

• Library Support Staff will know
• General trends and developments of appropriate
  technology in all library functions and services
  whether offered in the library or through remote
  access.
• Technologys role in creating and delivering
  library resources, functions, and services.
• The role and responsibilities of libraries for
  introducing relevant applications of technology
  to the public, including assistive technology.

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Technology (Contd)

• Basic computer operations needed to access
  library applications software and productivity
  tools.
• Basic networking technologies and protocols.
• Basic data security principles and best practices
  to ensure the integrity of data and the
  confidentiality of user activities.
• Concepts and issues concerning the appropriate
  use of technology by different user groups.

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Next Steps Determine Assessment Methodology
for Participants 2008-2009

• Assessment Expert, Maureen Lancaster
• Recognize prior learning
• Recognize new learning
• May include a combination of
• Approved providers
• Electronic portfolios
• Decision in October 2008

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Develop Policies and Procedures 2008/2009

• Administration
• Time allowed to participants for completion
• Application procedures, including forms, etc.
• Provider approval process
• Fees
• Marketing
• Program evaluation
• Renewal/recertification
• Other issues

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Final StepsField Demonstrations 2009 - 2010

• North Suburban Library System, IL
• Arizona State Library Archives
• Texas Library Association
• Highline Community College, WA
• ALA division

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Approval Process by ALA

• LSSCP program includes
• Background and rationale
• Competencies
• Assessment methodology
• Policies and procedures
• Business plan
• ALA division boards must endorse and approve

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Draft Approval Timeline

• Spring 2009 Divisions approve
• June 2009 ALA-APA Certification Program
  Committee (CPC) approves
• January 2010 ALA Council reviews
• Spring 2010 ALA Executive Board reviews
  approves program

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Issues

• Ensuring that the program is affordable for
  participants and sustainable by ALA
• Assessing new learning and prior learning
• Gaining acceptance of the program nationally
• Recruiting a significant number of candidates
• Supporting candidates

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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

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More information?

• Website
• http//www.ala-apa.org/certification/supportstaff
  .html
• Karen Strege kstrege_at_msn.com
• 206 829 8821
• 206 407 9756 (cell)
• Nancy Bolt nancybolt_at_earthlink.net
• 303 642 0338
• 303 905 9347 (cell)