Library Support Staff Resource Center available

CHICAGO — A Library Support Staff Online Resource Center is now available through the American Library Association (ALA).  This newly-revised website is designed to provide resources of interest for library support staff, paraprofessionals and those interested in library work.  It is divided into several major sections for ease of use.

The education and training section provides general information on library training resources, library competencies, library certification programs, library degree programs and financial assistance. 

The certification information by state section provides links to information regarding statutes mandated by each individual state.

The library certificate and degree programs section provides links to institutions that offer Certificate, Associate, Bachelor and Master Degrees.  Institutions that offer any type of library degree are sorted by individual states, Puerto Rico and Canada.

The Colleague Connection section consists of national, regional, and state associations that library paraprofessionals may be interested in joining.

This Library Support Staff Resource Center is the result of research and diligence of the ALA Emerging Leaders (EL) 2015 Team F members Tiffany K. Chow, Rebecka Embry, Valarie Kingsland and their member guide, Jennifer Kutzik.  We are appreciative of the hard work and commitment exhibited by the members of this 2015 Emerging Leaders team.

The ALA Emerging Leaders program is a leadership development program which enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts participants on the fast track to ALA committee volunteerism as well as other professional library-related organizations.

The ALA EL program is managed by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR).  For more information on the ALA Emerging Leaders program, visit the EL web page.