Library Practitioner Certificate Program

http://certificate.westernco.org/

About the Program

The certificate is for library practitioners, defined as library directors or managers without a masters of library and information science (MLS). The certificate requires that the practitioner has completed 162 contact hours in different competency areas and has library experience.

The certificate does not take the place of certificates from individual states or certificates or degrees from colleges or universities. Some state libraries will recognize the Western Council certificate. You can find information about individual state certificates at state libraries websites and more information about the educational requirements for professional librarians at ALA's Education & Careers page.

The program also approves education providers who must meet standards set by Western Council. This approval process assures certificate applicants of high quality educational experiences.

Program History

The Western Council of State Libraries (Council) received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant in 2003 to improve library services by defining the essential skills of library practitioners and increasing and improving training opportunities.

One of grant’s activities was to define competencies for library practitioners and build a certification program on these competencies. The competencies represent a consensus opinion about what is the essential knowledge, skills and ability for public library practitioners. The list of certification competencies is available. The certification program began in January 2007. BCR administrates the program with oversight by Council’s Executive Committee.