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A Library Support Staff Certification Program LSSCP

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Title: A Library Support Staff Certification Program LSSCP


1
A Library Support Staff Certification Program
(LSSCP)
  • Sponsored by the
  • American Library Association
  • ALA-Allied Professional Association
  • Western Council of State Libraries

2
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)

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 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    A Report of Focus Groups (unpublished, 1991).

4
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

5
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

6
Why Should Support Staff Bother?
  • Love of learning
  • Proof of Accomplishment
  • Move to new job
  • Provides a goal

7
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

8
Federal Grant
  • IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant
  • July 1, 2007 June 30, 2010
  • Dr. Karen Strege and Nancy Bolt, project
    directors

9
Grant Schedule
  • Finalize competencies 2007-08
  • Assessment program 2008-09
  • Policies and procedures 2008-09
  • Field tests 2009-10

10
Advisory Committee
  • LSSIRT
  • Committee on Education
  • Western Council of State Libraries
  • ACRL
  • ALCTS
  • ASCLA
  • LAMA
  • PLA
  • RUSA
  • ALA-APA staff

11
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.

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
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.

16
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

17
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

18
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.

19
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

20
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

21
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.

22
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.

23
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

24
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

25
Final StepsField Demonstrations 2009 - 2010
  • North Suburban Library System, IL
  • Arizona State Library Archives
  • Texas Library Association
  • Highline Community College, WA
  • ALA division

26
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

27
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

28
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

29
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

30
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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