State of the Nation

If you're thinking about becoming a certified school librarian but don't know where to begin, look no further. The most difficult part about the process is sifting through the various requirements of each state—and we've done most of the legwork for you on the following pages.

The good news is that becoming certified is fairly easy in most states—if you have a classroom teaching certificate or are working toward a master's degree in library and information science or educational media.

In a recent nationwide survey of state departments of education, 42 report they require certification for K–12 library media specialists, meaning that school library candidates must have a bachelor's degree including coursework designed to prepare them to teach at a particular grade level or in a specified subject area. In the majority of states, certification for school librarians requires additional coursework beyond a bachelor's, and in some instances, a master's degree.

Where's it the easiest to become certified? Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah, and Vermont require only 16 to 21 undergraduate or graduate course hours in school library media. Of course, those credit hours must be tied to a classroom teaching certificate, usually called an endorsement or add-on certificate.

It's a lot tougher to become certified in places such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas, all of which mandate a teaching certificate, plus classroom teaching experience, and a master's degree in library and information science or education. Some states, such as Colorado, Kansas, and Ohio certify teachers and school librarians at different levels, as a kind of probationary period for those with less experience. A beginning teacher, for instance, might be issued a preliminary certificate, and a teacher with two years or more of experience would qualify for a professional educator certificate.

States like Alaska, Iowa, and Maine require additional specialized coursework for certification as a classroom teacher or school librarian. Alaska, for instance, requires three hours of coursework about the history of Alaska, as well as a three-hour course on the state's various cultures. Connecticut asks that you take coursework in foundations of education, or education history and the development of different educational theories and pedagogies, educational psychology, and curriculum and methods of teaching.

The majority of states, 74 percent, however, don't require graduate degrees in library and information science or education for certification, although they're strongly preferred. When professional degrees aren't mandated, states rely on candidates taking anywhere from 18 to 36 credit hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework in library science. Rhode Island, among other states, specifies that preparation as a school librarian includes courses on introduction to libraries, library administration, selection and organization of material, production of media, reference, and multimedia and computer literacy.

Currently, there are 84 graduate programs in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada that are accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), both of which set standards for school library media programs. Catholic University, the University of South Florida, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Rhode Island are accredited by both ALA and NCATE.

Many States, Few Programs

Librarians and teachers in places such as Nebraska, Montana, and Idaho recognize the lack of accredited graduate programs in library and information science and are pushing for more detailed standards and laws for media specialist certification. Meanwhile, these states are doing their best to offer other options, while still ensuring that qualified educators are hired for school library positions. The University of Nebraska at Kearney, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Chadron State College, for example, all offer a school library endorsement or an additional certificate to the classroom teaching certificate, both at the undergraduate or graduate level. The University of Montana at Missoula, the University of Montana–Western, and Montana State University–Bozeman offer 21 credit hours in K–12 library media endorsement programs. The College of Southern Idaho offers an associate's degree in Curriculum for Library Technicians, Lewis and Clark State University offers seven courses in library media, and Boise State University offers a master's in Education in Educational Technology.

Competencies, Not Courses

States such as Connecticut, Michigan, and North and South Dakota are gradually moving away from asking for specific coursework to requiring that applicants meet national competency requirements such as those specified by ALA, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), NCATE, Information Power, or a college or university. Why? They want to ensure that potential media specialists are equipped with specific knowledge and skills—not just a transcript with a list of required courses. In Michigan, for example, standards for library media endorsement are aligned to the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation (www.ala.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentID=42169).

Some 55 percent of states surveyed, including Minnesota, North Carolina, and Washington, require a PRAXIS II (0310 Library Media Specialist) or a state-developed examination, which are used by state departments of education to evaluate a candidate's knowledge of the field.

Only Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas require classroom teaching experience, and although 80 percent of those states surveyed say such experience isn't mandatory, it's a definite plus because it assures administrators that you're familiar with the educational workplace.

State departments of education in places such as Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, and Tennessee are willing to consider applicants with a master's degree in library science and no teacher certification, particularly if the degrees or transcripts indicate you've “majored” in school librarianship by meeting certain competency requirements and have the appropriate field experience or have completed a related practicum.

Seventy percent, or 33 states, including Indiana, Louisiana, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, ask that certified media specialists have a practicum, internship, or some kind of field experience in a school library setting. This is particularly important for those who lack a teaching certificate or classroom teaching experience.

If you're relocating, be sure to carefully investigate the requirements for certification in your new state. Make sure that you have e-mail addresses or telephone contacts for official agencies in your previous state so you can send copies of transcripts, degrees, and credentials to your new state. It's also wise to have a short list of former supervisors or fellow teachers or librarians that may be contacted to provide recommendations for you.

A word of caution: it's not always possible to determine from a state department of education Web site what the requirements are for being a school librarian, and if they do list it, it usually involves digging several layers down to find the information. If you reach a dead end on one of those Web sites, don't despair. Pick up the phone and contact the human resources office of a local school district for assistance.