ALA-APA recognizes Spokane Falls Community College graduates

For Immediate Release
Thu, 09/05/2013

Contact:

Ian Lashbrook

Research Associate

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

American Library Association-Allied Professional Association

ilashbrook@ala.org

CHICAGO — The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) announced today that it has completed an agreement with the Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) that will allow its graduates, who meet the established criteria from their Library and Information Services Program, to receive the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) designation.

ALA-APA and SFCC believe that the graduates’ degrees or certificates, coupled with the LSSC, will benefit graduates, the library in which they work and library users.  Lorelle Swader, director of ALA-APA, said, “SFCC’s graduates will be recognized for their acquired skills and knowledge with this national certification, which is quickly becoming a standard for the profession.  The LSSC will show employers of these graduates that they have made a commitment to furthering their own continuing professional development and future.”

The ALA-APA proposed this agreement after reviewing SFCC curriculum and finding that its graduates have completed coursework that meets the majority of LSSC’s competency requirements.  To receive the LSSC, candidates from SFCC must have the required one year of recent library experience or meet that requirement within four years.

ALA-APA is has similar agreements with the Pasadena City College, the City College of San Francisco, and the Palomar Community College in California; the Waubonsee Community College, the College of DuPage, and the Illinois Central College in Illinois; the Highline Community College in Washington; the Dona Ana Community College in New Mexico; the Central Carolina Community College in North Carolina; the Belmont College in Ohio and the Ivy Community College in Indiana.  ALA-APA is working with 10 other colleges to see if their curriculums also meet the standards set forth by the LSSC competencies. 

The LSSC Program is interested in working with other community or junior college programs.

Funding for the LSSC Program came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The American Library Association developed and established the LSSC Program, and supports ALA-APA’s work with Library Technical Assistant programs.

To find out more about the LSSC Program or the recognition agreements, please contact LSSC Program staff at lssc@ala.org.