Certification
Overview (L4L)
What follows is a very basic introduction. More detailed information will be found in the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Librarians published by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (November 2004). Librarians and trustees are advised to consult that regularly. Additional information and help regarding certification can be obtained from Rick Krumwiede, the OWLS validator, or from John DeBacher (john.debacher@dpi.state.wi.us) at the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning.
Introduction
Every public library director in the state of Wisconsin needs to be certified. Certificates are issued for a five-year period. The renewal of a certificate for another five-year period requires participation in 100 hours of continuing education. A person does not need to be certified at the time of hiring, but she/he must be able to meet certification requirements within one year. The newly-hired director must apply for a one-year temporary certificate within three months after being hired.
Grade I
Directors of libraries serving a municipality of 6000 or more need to have a Grade I certificate. Only those people with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school program are eligible for Grade I certificates.
Grade II
Directors of libraries serving a municipality with a population between 3000 and 5999 must hold a Grade II certificate. The educational requirements for this grade are a bachelor's degree, including or supplemented by courses in public library administration, selection of materials, organization of materials, and reference and information services. An applicant for Grade II certification who has not completed these library courses may be granted temporary certification, renewable annually for up to four years. The public library administration course must be completed by the end of the first year and at least one of the other courses must be completed by the end of the third year.
Grade III
Directors of libraries serving a population of fewer than 3000 must have a Grade III certificate, which requires the successful completion of 54 semester hours, half in the liberal arts and sciences, including or supplemented by courses in public library administration, selection of materials, organization of materials, and reference and information services. An applicant for Grade II certification who has not completed these library courses may be granted temporary certification, renewable annually for up to four years. The public library administration course must be completed by the end of the first year and at least one of the other courses must be completed by the end of the third year. NOTE: Individuals who had temporary or initial Grade III certification before November 1, 2004 must comply with the rules in effect at the time they were granted those certificates, that is, they must complete a basic library management course within one year and the three additional courses in the five years prior to their initial recertification.
Renewal of Certification
Public library directors must accumulate 100 contact hours of continuing education every five years. Evidence of attendance at workshops and conferences should be submitted to the System Validator annually according to the instructions in the Certification Manual. Please note that all the forms involved in certification and recertification are now available online at the Division's Public Librarian Certification page.
A contact hour is sixty (60) minutes of continuous participation in a learning activity. A learning activity must be a minimum of one contact hour. After that minimum of one contact hour is met, credit is granted for fractions of an hour by rounding up to the closest quarter hour; e.g., a program lasting one hour and fifty minutes would be rounded up to two hours.
There are three categories of eligible continuing education activities: (A) credit continuing education activities, i.e., courses for which academic credit is awarded; (B) noncredit continuing education activities, e.g., system workshops and state or national conferences of library-related associations; and (C) self-directed continuing education activities, which must be preapproved and developed in consultation with the System Validator. A minimum of seventy (70) contact hours must be earned in Categories A and B.
Voluntary Certification
Individuals employed in libraries in positions other than director may apply for certification, though it is not required. Certification is not intended to be used by individual library boards as a requirement for hiring in non-administrative positions or for advancement within the library.
FAQ
Do I need to send my application for certification to the system?
No, you can send the application, the fee, and enclosures (e.g., transcripts or diplomas or, for renewal, the relevant Annual Summations of Learning Activities, signed by the system validator) directly to the state as follows:
Public Librarian Certification
Division for Libraries and Community Learning
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7841
May I get a continuing education scholarship from the system for the cost of the required library courses for certification?
OWLS believes it is the individual library board's responsibility to pay the costs associated with courses required for the director's regular certification, that is, basic library management, selection of materials, organization of materials, and reference and information services. However, the system will consider providing scholarship help with the cost of these classes when the library board cannot meet this responsibility.
Note that the Division "recommends that libraries budget sufficient funds for the continuing education needed to maintain the library director's certification and improve his/her knowledge. Not only is payment of certification fees recommended, but also paid leave time and payment for other expenses to pursue needed continuing education" (p. 17, Certification Manual).
I have a master's degree from a non-accredited library school. Is there any way I can be certified at Grade I?
Yes, the Division can decide to grant you a Grade I certificate if, in addition to your degree, you have two years of successful library experience after graduation. See page 6 of the Certification Manual.
Supporting public libraries in Outagamie and Waupaca counties