Frequently Asked Questions about the Public Librarian Certification program
Q. Can anyone apply to participate in the Public Librarian
Certification program?
A. The program is open to all Nebraska residents, currently employed
in, or planning to be employed in a Nebraska library. Although the
program is geared toward individuals currently employed in public
libraries, anyone from any type of library
may participate.
Q. What if I am a first time applicant to the program? How do I apply?
A. Fill out the
Public Librarian
Certification enrollment form and submit it to the Continuing Education
Coordinator, Nebraska Library Commission, 1200 N Street, Suite 120 Lincoln, NE
68508.
Q. Are there any fees involved in the application process?
A. There is no cost to apply. There may be costs involved in your
participation at various continuing education activities.
Q. On the application form I notice that the highest level of education
obtained has to be selected. Do I have to submit any school and/or college
transcripts?
A. We no longer require copies of transcripts.
Q. What do the Levels mean?
A. They involve the amount of post-secondary education obtained.
There are eight levels of certification:
-
Level V - Graduate degree in library or information science from an institution of higher education accredited by the American Library Association
;
- Level IV-L - Graduate Degree, with B.A. or A.A. degree, or Professional Certificate in Library Science
;
- Level IV - Graduate degree from an accredited college or university and fulfillment of the Basic Skills requirements
;
- Level III-L - Bachelor's Degree, with B.A. or A.A. degree, or Professional Certificate in Library Science
;
- Level III - Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and
fulfillment of the Basic Skills requirements ;
- Level II-L - At least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college credit, with A.A. degree or Professional Certificate in Library Science;
- Level II - High school diploma or GED certificate and
60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college credit, and fulfillment of the Basic Skills requirements ;
- Level I - High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate,
and
fulfillment of the Basic Skills requirements.
Q. What are the initial requirements of the certification program?
A. All program participants must earn at least 45 c.e. credit hours in
each 3-year certification period. In the first certification period,
participants must also fulfill the Basic Skills requirements, by taking the
Basic Skills courses or by equivalent study. Credits earned fulfilling the
Basic Skills requirements count toward the total credit hours requirement.
Q. What kind of Continuing Education counts?
A. Continuing education activities must
- be about libraries and librarianship,
or must be about a subject that directly relates to the participant's job
function within a library
- be offered by, or under the aegis of,
a reputable organization or educational institution
- be
presented in an organized way
- be designed for adult learners.
CE
credit hours may be earned through a variety of library-related activities
including on-site workshops, videoconferencing, and online courses. A
participant may earn up to 10 hours of ce credit, and no more, for viewing
video
education. If you have any questions whether a particular continuing
education event will qualify you for ce credit, check with the Continuing
Education Coordinator before the event. The Nebraska Library Commission
reserves the right to determine whether an event qualifies participants for
continuing education credit, and for how much credit.
Q. After I submit the application what happens?
A. Upon receipt of a complete application, the Nebraska Library Commission will
issue a certificate and send it to the participant at the preferred address selected on the
original application form. Individuals applying at Levels I, II, III, or
IV
will receive a
Provisional certificate . Individuals applying at Level II-L, III-L. IV-L,
or V of the
certification program will receive a certificate without the Provisional
designation. Either type of certificate will have a date of renewal of approximately three years from the time
that the application was received and processed at the Library Commission.
For example, if we processed your certificate on August 15, 2011, your
certificate would have the renewal date of August 15, 2014.
Q. What does a Provisional Certificate mean?
A. It means that the participant has not yet fulfilled the Basic Skills
requirments.
Q. Ok, I have my certificate but how does the Library Commission keep
track of my continuing education hours for this program?
A. The Nebraska Library Commission maintains a database of individuals who have
applied for certification. Participation in continuing education
activities sponsored by the Library Commission and/or by any of the Nebraska Regional
Library Systems is automatically reported. Attendance at continuing
education activities sponsored or provided by institutions other than the
Library Commission or one of the Regional Library Systems may also be counted
and recorded, but individuals must report their attendance to the Continuing
Education Coordinator. There is a
Continuing Education
Reporting Form available on the website to use to
report continuing education activities outside of the Library Commission and
Regional Library Systems.
Q. How can I access the database that has my continuing education hours?
A. You have anytime online access to your own Continuing Education Record
on the NLC Website
at nlc.nebraska.gov/CE/lookup.asp. You will need your
password to get into your record. If you've forgotten your password, contact Linda Jensen by
e-mail, and she'll send your password back to you. We prefer email because
the passwords are combinations of letters, numbers and symbols, and they are case sensitive. It's much easier for you to have it
in writing so you just have to copy and paste it.
Q. What do I have to do to make sure that my certificate will be renewed?
A. You need to fulfill the recertification requirements, which are to
accumulate a minimum of 45 ce credits within your three-year certification
period. The Library Commission will automatically renew your certificate, if you
have earned enough ce credits. A new certificate will be issued, and a new certification period will
begin.
Q. If I earn more than 45 ce credit hours in three years, will
they count toward my next certificate?
A. C.E credit hours cannot be transferred to a new
certification period.
Q.
Who can I talk to if I have any questions about the application
process, my continuing education hours, or
about the certification program in general?
A. The Nebraska Library Commission Continuing Education Coordinator is available to answer
all your questions about the application process and your participation in the program.
Contact Laura Johnson,
by
e-mail,
or at 402-471-2694, 800-307-2665.