#3 Trustee Essential 19
TE 19–1 01/2002 Trustee Essential 19 Library Director Certification This Trustee Essential covers: Requirements for certifying your library director Continuing education to maintain
certification Background The Wisconsin Legislature has declared that it is the policy of the state to provide laws for the development and improvement of public libraries. Librarian
certification has been part of Wisconsin law since 1921, when the legislature, at the urging of the Wisconsin Library Association, passed the first comprehensive state public librarian
certification law. The concern was that the public libraries of the state be headed by qualified library personnel, assuring a high level of professional management and administration
of Wisconsin’s library resources, programs, and services. Wisconsin’s current public librarian certification law reflects a continuing interest in ensuring that qualified personnel direct
Wisconsin’s public libraries. The law requires a broad educational background, as well as coursework designed to focus on the issues and concerns relevant in a public library setting.
The law also recognizes the need for public librarians to increase their skills and knowledge and be prepared for the challenges and responsibilities of library service in this information
age by mandating relevant continuing education. Library board responsibilities Public library boards are required to hire library directors who are currently either appropriately certified
or eligible for certification. Only libraries with properly certified library directors can be members of a library system. Library boards recruiting for directors should specify that
a required qualification for the job is eligibility for a Wisconsin regular or temporary public librarian certificate appropriate to the library’s municipal, joint municipal, or county
population. The employment contract and/or letter of appointment should specify that as a condition of employment the director will obtain and maintain the appropriate certification.
A regular certificate signifies that the holder meets all of the general education and library education requirements for the grade level (though Grade III renewal requires more than
initial Grade III certification). A temporary certificate signifies that the holder meets all of the general education requirements but not all of the library education requirements
for the grade level. Temporary certificates are valid for only a limited time period before they must be replaced with regular certificates. An uncertified new library director needing
a temporary certificate must apply for it within three months of the date of hire.
TE 19–2 It is not the intent of the certification law that the various grade levels of certification be used either as conditions of employment for positions other than the library director
or as requirements for advancement within an organization. Summary of certification requirements1 A regular certificate is valid for a period of five years, with legally prescribed requirements
for recertification every five years. The required level (grade) of certification depends on the population2 of the library’s community. The certification grades and their corresponding
educational requirements and populations are: Grade I: library system directors and library directors of public libraries representing a population of 6,000 or more. Educational requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree and a Library and Information Science Master’s Degree from an institution accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Note: Temporary certification will be
granted for one year to applicants for Grade I certification to allow completion of the Library and Information Science Master’s Degree. Grade II: library directors of public libraries
representing a population between 3,000 and 5,999. Educational requirements: Bachelor’s Degree plus twelve semester credits for the following courses: Public Library Administration Selection
of Materials Organization of Materials Reference and Information Services Note: Temporary certification will be granted to applicants for Grade II certification in order for them to
complete the four required courses. Temporary certification will be renewed annually for up to three years (i.e., two renewals) with adequate progress towards completing the educational
requirement. Grade III: library directors of public libraries representing a population under 3,000. Educational requirements: for initial certification, 54 college semester credits
(including at least 27 in the liberal arts and sciences) plus the following course: Basic Library Management (A-50) or Public Library Administration 1 While this summary should be helpful
to you, you should see the latest edition of the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors for the most comprehensive and authoritative treatment of the certification
requirements set forth in the Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PI 6. 2 For the purposes of this summary, ―population‖ means the population of any village, city, township, or county
which operates a public library or the combined population of municipalities participating in a joint library.
TE 19–3 A regular grade III certificate will be granted to the applicant after the Basic Library Management or Public Library Administration course is completed; the director will need
to have completed these three courses before recertification: Selection of Materials Organization of Materials Reference and Information Services Note: Temporary certification will be
granted for one year to applicants for Grade III certification in order for them to complete the Basic Library Management or Public Library Administration course. Special provisional
certificates are granted in certain circumstances, such as for an individual who is employed as the administrator for a public library in which he or she was originally certified at
the appropriate grade level but who is no longer properly certified due to population growth. Special temporary certificates are granted to individuals who were previously certified
and whose certification has been expired for at least one year and who have not served as the administrator of a public library or public library system in Wisconsin during that period.
For details see the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors. Continuing education Library directors are required to participate in continuing education activities
in order to maintain their certification. These activities may be library system workshops, college courses, Wisconsin Library Association general and unit conferences, or a variety
of other educational programs—as long as the activities are directly related to the individuals’ position or will permit advancement in the profession. Every year, librarians should
report their continuing education activities to their library system continuing education validator. Every five years, as part of the recertification process, librarians must report
their participation in continuing education activities. Library directors in all grades must participate in 100 hours of continuing education over the five-year period. The Division
for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning recommends that, at a minimum, every library should budget sufficient annual funds for the continuing education needed to maintain the
library director’s certification and improve his/her knowledge. Payment of certification fees is recommended, as well as paid leave time and payment for other expenses needed to pursue
continuing education. Discussion Questions: 1. What is in jeopardy if the library does not have a certified library director? 2. Is it advantageous to look for a director with qualifications
higher than your community population requires? 3. Should the library board take some responsibility for assisting its director to acquire continuing education? If yes, to what degree?
TE 19–4 Sources of Additional Information: Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors. Department of Public Instruction, 2000 (also available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/cert.html)
Your library system continuing education validator (see Trustee Tool B: Library System Map and Contact Information) Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning staff (see
Trustee Tool C for contact information) ______________________________ Trustee Essentials: A Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees was prepared by the DLTCL with the assistance
of the Trustee Handbook Revision Task Force. Copyright 2002 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Duplication and distribution for not-for-profit purposes permitted with this copyright
notice. This publication is also available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/handbook.html.