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Programs & Specializations

Public Library Certification

"Public library certification" is a process administered by the Indiana State Library for people working in Indiana public libraries. It is not awarded by Indiana University or SLIS, and is not the same as school library media (teaching) certification. Coursework at the undergraduate level, for certificate levels 4, 5 and 6 is available through Ivy Tech. Coursework for levels 1, 2 and 3 is provided in the MLS program at SLIS Indianapolis.

For complete information, contact the:

Indiana Library Certification Board
Indiana State Library
140 N. Senate
Indianapolis, IN 46204
phone: 1-800-451-6028
http://www.webjunction.org/content/webjunction/partners/indiana/in-itiatives/certification.html

Librarian Certificate 6 —

  • High school diploma or GED with 5 years of library experience or 9 semester hours of required library science courses.

Librarian Certificate 5 —

  • 60 hours of college or associate's degree, including the Library Technical Assistant Associate's degree from IVY Tech and, or including, 9 semester hours of required library science courses.
  • The required library science courses include:
    • Collection development
    • Reference/ information sources
    • Public library administration

Undergraduate library science courses are available from Ivy Tech.

Librarian Certificate 4 –

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester hours of required library science courses
    • collection development (S502)
    • reference and information sources (S501)
    • public library administration (S551 or S553)
    • children's work (S571 or S572)
    • cataloging/classification (S504)

Librarian Certificate 3 —

  • A graduate degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited library science school.

Librarian Certificate 2 —

  • A graduate degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited library science school, and
  • Three years of library experience.

Librarian Certificate 1 –

  • A graduate degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited library science school, and
  • Ten years of library experience, or six years of library experience that includes three years of supervising professional staff.

See also information on the Post-MLS Executive Management Certificate with SPEA. This online program in addition to the MLS will provide emphasis for graduates in human resource management, budget development, long-range planning, and program evaluation.