Public Librarian Certification
The Public Librarian Certification program
- Improves library service throughout the state.
- Motivates librarians to acquire, maintain, and develop skills
through basic and continuing education.
- Provides guidelines for public library boards to use in
selecting and retaining personnel.
- Recognizes public librarians who update their knowledge and skills on a continuing basis to provide better
library service for the community.
To participate in the Public Librarian Certification program, you must
enroll in the program.
Every program participant must fulfill the Basic Skills requirement, and must earn 45 continuing education credits each three-year certification period.
Upon enrollment, if you have a Master's degree in Library Science,
you will be issued a
certificate, good for three years. During the three-year period that the
certificate is valid, it is expected that you will earn at least 45 continuing education credits.
If you do not have a Master's degree in Library Science,
upon enrollment, you will be
issued a Provisional Certificate, good for three years. During the three
year period, it is expected that you will fulfill the Basic Skills requirement by successfully completing the Basic
Skills courses or through equivalent formal
training,
and earn a total of 45 continuing education credits
(of which some may be earned by successfully completing Basic Skills courses.).
Once you have fulfilled the Basic Skills requirement and have earned 45 continuing education
credits, you may apply for
full certification, even if the three-year provisional certification period has
not yet come to an end, and a certificate, at the appropriate Level, good for
three years, will be
issued. At the end of the provisional certification
period, you must have met the requirements for full certification.
Provisional Certification cannot be renewed.
Certification may be renewed every three years indefinitely, as long as
a participant earns 45 C.E. credits during the certification period.
Renewals for participants who have met the requirements are automatic.
Continuing Education credits may not be carried over from one certification
period into a subsequent one.
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 from an accredited college or university;
and
Bachelor's degree, 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 Requirement.
- Level III-L - Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university,
and that degree in Library Science; or another Bachelor's degree, 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 Requirement.
- 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 Requirement.
- Level I - High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate,
and
fulfillment
of the Basic Skills Requirement.
The Nebraska Library Commission maintains a database of participants in the certification
program. Participation in continuing education
activities sponsored by the Library Commission and/or any of the Nebraska Regional
Library Systems is automatically reported and recorded. 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 such attendance to the Continuing
Education Coordinator within 90 days of the event. The
Continuing Education
Reporting Form may be used to
report continuing education activities outside of the Library Commission and
Regional Library Systems.
Continuing education credit is earned for
participation in
planned learning experiences designed
to bring about changes in knowledge, skills, or attitudes which contribute
directly to delivery of quality library services and competent practice of
librarianship.
- 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.
-
They must be offered by, or under the aegis of, a
reputable organization or educational institution.
-
They must be presented
in an organized way, and
-
They must be designed for adult learners.
For further information on how to earn C.E. credits, see
Earning Continuing Education Credits
for Nebraska Public Librarian
Recertification. If you have any
question whether you would earn C.E. credit by participating in a particular continuing education event, check with the Continuing Education Coordinator before the event.
The Nebraska Library Commission reserves the right to determine whether
participation in an event
qualifies for continuing education credit, and for how much credit.
For more information about the Public Librarian
Certification program, see Frequently Asked Questions.
For further information, contact Laura Johnson, Continuing Education Coordinator
by e-mail, or by phone,
at 402-471-2694, or 800-307-2665.
Frequently Asked Questions
Earning Continuing Education Credits for Nebraska Public Librarian Recertification
Public Librarian Certification Application
Nebraska Library Commission Continuing Education Activity Reporting Form
C.E. Record Review