A Library Support Staff Certification Program LSSCP

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A Library Support Staff Certification Program
(LSSCP)

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

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LSS More information?

• Website
• http//www.ala-apa.org/lsscp
• 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  A Report of Focus Groups (unpublished, 1991).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
• In a national survey
• 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 from Survey Results

• Maryland Minnesota Opinions on
• LSS Programs
• High of LSS and Managers feel library users are
  better served by staff with certification
• LSS believe they understand library service
  better
• High of LSS report more confidence serving
  users
• Managers report that LSS contribute more to
  operations and success

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Why Should Support Staff Bother?

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

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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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Awarded a Federal Grant

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

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Grant Schedule

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

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• PROGRAM BEGINS !!
• January 1st, 2010

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Advisory Committee

• LSSIRT
• ACRL
• ALCTS
• ASCLA
• LLAMA
• PLA
• RUSA
• Committee on Education
• Western Council of State Libraries

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Desired Outcome of the Project

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

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LSSCP Will

• Be individual-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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Competencies

• Draft competencies written
• Surveyed interested library support staff
  stakeholders for their opinion of the draft
  competencies 2700 people responded
• Competency sets revised, June 2008

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Preliminary Areas of Competencies

• 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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Example 1Foundations of Library Services

• 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, ALA Code of Ethics, freedom of
  information, and privacy issues.
• 3. The roles of library support staff in
  libraries
• 4. The responsibilities of and the relationships
  among library departments or functional areas.

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Foundations (contd)

• 5. 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)

• 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.

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Foundations (contd)

• Library staff will be able to
• 9. Practice quality customer service
• 10. Communicate and promote the library 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

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Example 2Technology Competencies

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

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Technology Competencies (contd)

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

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Technology Competencies (contd)

• Library Support Staff will be able to
• 8. Adapt to changes in technology
• 9. Transfer information gained from training into
  the work place.
• 10. Assist and train users to operate public
  equipment, connect to the internet, utilize
  library software applications and access library
  services from remote locations
• 11. Use information discovery tools including the
  librarys catalog, core library databases and
  internet search engines.

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Technology Competencies (contd)

• Library Support Staff will be able to
• 12. Perform basic troubleshooting of technical
  problems and resolve or appropriately refer those
  problems.
• 13. Access and use basic assistive technologies,
  where appropriate, to ensure that all users have
  equitable access to technology.

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Assessment Methodology

• Assessment Expert, Maureen Lancaster
• Recognize prior learning new learning
• A combination of approved courses portfolios
• Candidates will submit all materials through an
  electronic portfolio

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Policies and Procedures

• Candidates have four years to complete
  assessments
• Fee is tentatively set at 350 for four years
• Renewal will be required
• All online

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Course Approval Process

• Any continuing education or professional
  development provider can apply
• Survey February 09 for interest
• Simple application review process
• Tentative application fee - 150 per course
• Possible discount for multiple courses from same
  provider

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Field Demonstrations Fall, 2009

• Lincoln Trail Libraries System (IL)
• Louisiana State Library
• Texas Library Association
• Highline Community College, WA
• Association of Library Collections and Technical
  Services (ALCTS) ALA Division

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Program Approval Process

• LSSCP program includes
• Background and rationale
• Competencies
• Eligibility to participate
• Assessment process
• Business plan
• Program must be approved by multiple bodies

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Tentative Approval Schedule
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Issues

• How to make the program affordable yet
  sustainable by ALA
• How to gain acceptance of the program across the
  country
• How to recruit a significant number of
  participants
• How to best support learning
• Policies regarding renewal

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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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LSS More information?

• Website
• http//www.ala-apa.org/lsscp
• 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)