Program Overview

School Librarian Certification

Program Type

Graduate Academic Certificate

Format

Online Hybrid

Estimated Time to Complete

1-2 years

Credit Hours

27

Program Description

Take your education to the next level and prepare to share your love of reading and learning with the next generation. School librarians are an important part of the P-12 learning environment. They develop and deliver student-centered library programs and facilities, fulfilling leadership roles in reading and literacy development, instruction, integration of technology, school library management, collaboration with teachers, and engagement with the educational community.

Program Highlights

• Special lectures hosted by the college and the department feature renowned scholars who provide different perspectives and insights into the information science field.
• Our students and faculty are active members of different professional associations and learned societies, such as the iSchools consortium, the American Library Association, the Association for Information Science and Technology, and the Knowledge & Information Professional Association.
• Information science students can study in a variety of concentrations such as information organization, information architecture, human information behavior and use, knowledge management, librarianship, modern information processing, and retrieval systems, digitization and digital libraries.
• Students who earn a graduate certificate can use their hours to go later use their hours as part of a Master's degree in Information or Library Science.
• Instruction is offered in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, online and blended, that allows you to balance classes with full-time or part-time employment.

Program Courses

• Instructional Materials Production and Use (3 hrs)
  • Introduces concepts and techniques for designing, evaluating and producing instructional materials in libraries and learning environments. Incorporates instructional design with technology to support learning. Involves the completion of hands-on multimedia projects using web-based tools.
• School Library Program Development (3 hrs)
  • Strategies for developing leadership skills as librarians work collaboratively with school and community stakeholders to promote the goals of the library media program. The process for engaging stakeholders in program development, assessment of services, and creation of policies and procedures. The use of evidence-based practice to develop, implement, evaluate, and advocate for library programs and services.
• Collection Development and Analysis in School Libraries (3 hrs)
  • Study of principles and practices in collection development and management of a school library, with emphasis on evaluation techniques, collection analysis and integration of digital resources. Individual investigation of selected problems and practices.
• Literature for Youth (3 hrs)
  • Survey of children’s and young adult literature, focusing on awards, genre, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic literature. Involves a wide range of reading, evaluation and development of program skills.
• Learning Resources Centers and Services (3 hrs)
  • Introduces the attitudes and competencies necessary to manage and provide effective leadership in a school library media program. Examines the roles and functions of school libraries. Investigates current topics relevant to the management of services in school libraries.
• School Librarianship (3 hrs)
  • Introduction to school librarianship with an overview of the profession including the various roles of the school librarian: information specialist, instructional collaborator and program administrator. Exposure to and an understanding of Intellectual Freedom, 21st century learning and resources, and the new face of school librarianship.