ALA-APA Library Support Staff Certification Webinar

If any of you are interested in pursuing ALA-APA's Library Support Staff Certification, you may wish to register for this webinar.

On Tuesday, June 7 at 2:00 pm (CDT), LSSC will offer an hour-long webinar on the program and how it works. The presentation will explain the value of this certification to Library Support Staff, employers, and library users. You will also have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered by program staff members. This webinar is open to all interested candidates. Register to attend at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/427540376 and for more information, visit our website!

Ian Lashbrook - ilashbrook@ala.org

Research Associate

Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC)

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8:30am - 4:30pm

50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611

(o)312-280-1411, (f)312-280-5297

http://ala-apa.org/lssc

ALA-APA Sessions at ALA Annual

ALA-APA is hosting a full roster of programs at Annual Conference. There’s the 8 part MBA Series for Librarians (all are welcome) and 5 Programs for the People.

Also, on Sunday, 6/26/2011, 4:00 – 5:30 pm, MCC 265, there will be a Library Support Staff Certification Program Open Forum - ALA has developed a national, voluntary Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC Program). The program is focused on skills that public and academic library support staff have or need. This is an exciting time to attend and learn more about this opportunity. Speaker: Nancy Bolt.

All details for the programs below are listed on the ALA-APA website at http://ala-apa.org/improving-salariesstatus/ala-conference-programs-2/2011-annual/.

1. Are you certifiable? How you and your library can benefit from ALA certification programs

2. Making a positive lasting impression

3. MBA for Librarians: Budget and Finance

4. MBA for Librarians: Leadership I

5. MBA for Librarians: Leadership II

6. MBA for Librarians: Marketing

7. MBA for Librarians: Organizational Development

8. MBA for Librarians: Project Management

9. MBA for Librarians: Statistics

10. MBA for Librarians: Strategic Planning

11. Speaking the Unspeakable: Getting comfortable talking about compensation and benefits

12. Negotiation: What else is on the table?

13. Welcome to Planet FURLOW: Advice for Furloughed, Underemployed, Restless, and Laid Off Workers.

For those of you not going to conference, before and after conference we often publish articles about the program topics. For instance, there is a series on working a second job in Library Worklife, profiling the various types of jobs library employees are working and how they made those decisions:

Spring into a side gig: Tips from Cheryl Lee - http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2011/04/04/spring-into-a-side-gig-tips-for-finding-and-keeping-a-second-job/

The professional part timer by Catherine Collins - http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2011/04/04/spring-into-a-side-gig-tips-for-finding-and-keeping-a-second-job/

It’s been a hard day’s search by Anne Larrivee - http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2011/01/01/its-been-a-hard-days-search-unemployment-frustrations/

I never thought I’d have to work a second job by Patricia Chapman - http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2011/02/01/the-side-gig-i-never-thought-id-have-to-work-a-second-job/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apply for the LIBRARY SUPPORT STAFF CERTIFICATION (LSSC) Program

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get REAL SALARY DATA with the Library Salary Database and Print Editions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Become a CERTIFIED PUBLIC LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boost your career by reading Library Worklife monthly newsletter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jenifer (one “n”) Grady, MSLS, MBA, CAE - jgrady@ala.org

Director, American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611

312-280-2424 (o), 312-280-5297 (f)

http://www.ala-apa.org

ALA-APA advocates for improving the Salaries and Status of Library Employees

Have you contributed to ALA-APA this year?

LSSC Registration Assistance Awards

The Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) of the American Library Association has been offering Registration Assistance Awards to participate in the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC) for the last several weeks and on April 30^th, LSSIRT will close the call for applicants. The Awards are for $175, half of the application cost to participate in LSSC and recipients must register within 90 days of receiving the award. The LSSC Program offers library employees the opportunity to achieve recognition for their experience, enhance library service, and increase skills and knowledge in areas like the foundations of librarianship, technology and communication.

Nancy Bolt, Co-Project Director of LSSC comments, “Research in Maryland and Minnesota has shown that certification results in library support staff who have a more comprehensive understanding of library service, are more confident, and contribute more to library operation and success. And ultimately, it results in library users that are better served.”

To be eligible to participate in LSSC and thus receive an Assistance Award, applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and have worked for the equivalent of one year (1820 hours) as a library staff member or volunteer within the last five years.

Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) provides a path to recognition and awareness of the critical role that library support staff play in the delivery of quality library service. To achieve certification, support staff must achieve six of ten competency sets either through development of an online portfolio or taking LSSC approved courses. The competency sets are: Foundations of Library Service; Technology; Communication and Teamwork; Access Services, Adult Readers’ Advisory Services; Cataloging and Classification; Collection Management; Reference and Information Services; Supervision and Management; and Youth Services.

Detailed additional information is available on the LSSC website or by contacting Nancy Bolt at 303-642-0338 or nancybolt@earthlink.net.

Ian Lashbrook - ilashbrook@ala.org

Research Associate

Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC)

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8:30am - 4:30pm

50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611

(o)312-280-1411, (f)312-280-5297

http://ala-apa.org/lssc

LITA Survey

In an effort to reach out to the library technology community and provide better services, LITA (the Library and Information Technology Association) is interested in how LITA members and non-members perceive the association. The short survey includes 3 questions (1 optional) and should take no more than 2 minutes to complete. We appreciate your participation!

Link to the Survey: http://bayonet.fiu.edu/library/lita.html

(Survey closes on 4/7/2011)

Thank you,

The LITA Branding Project Team

(Lauren Comito, Emily Daly, Bohyun Kim, Pearl Ly, Andreas Orphanides, Maurice York)