Test for Texas Librarians

Staff -- School Library Journal, 10/1/1999

With librarians in short supply, schools are hiring people based solely on an exam

Over the last several years, thousands of Texas media specialists have earned their credentials under a state law that lets certified teachers become certified librarians simply by taking a test. No training in librarianship is required.

The law's been on the books since 1992, but it's coming under increased criticism as a severe shortage of school librarians in Texas shows no sign of letting up. The problem is that administrators, desperate to staff their libraries but unable to find experienced personnel, are turning to what they view as the next best thing: teachers with no library experience who have passed the state school-librarian test.

Now a committee of librarians appointed by the state has recommended doing away with that certification option. The committee would instead require a master's degree and proficiency in six areas of school librarianship. The state also wants to create a conditional certificate so that teachers without library degrees or librarians with an MLS but no teaching degree could work under a mentor while they complete their training.