Twelve Certified Public Library Administrator Program candidates and one course approved
Contact: Jenifer Grady
ALA-APA
312-280-2424
jgrady@ala.org
For immediate release
October 16, 2007
Twelve Certified Public Library Administrator Program candidates and one course approved
CHICAGO - The Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA) Certification Review Committee (CRC) approved 12 new candidates and one more program course at the 2007 fall review. The program now has 87 candidates representing public libraries of all sizes across the nation.
The Certified Public Library Administrator program is a voluntary post-MLS certification program for public librarians with three years or more of supervisory experience and ALA-accredited master's degrees in library and information studies.
The candidates are from 30 states and Nassau, Bahamas. Although they have an average of 10 years of supervisory experience, they still find these courses beneficial. Margaret Hooper, a CPLA candidate from Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, after taking the Politics and Networking course from UIUC, said, "I believe I would not have been able to advance in the profession without this class." Other candidates have expressed similar sentiments about all of the courses.
There are 35 courses covering nine different management topics provided by associations, library schools and ALA divisions, offered online, face-to-face and at ALA conferences. In addition to approving the new course, North Suburban Library System (ILL), University of North Texas (UNT), Southeastern Massachusetts Library System (SEMLS) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) renewed their commitment to offer courses. Instructor Cheryl Bryan of SEMLS said, "As someone who completed my degree quite a while ago, I'm well aware that I've taught myself most of what I needed to know to be a successful library director. The topics are relevant and address the needs I see when I'm out working with our member libraries." Instructor Arlita Harris of UNT continues to be involved, she said, because, "Our students needed additional administrative preparation in working with our key stakeholders, especially in the public library."
Courses may also be taken by individuals who are not part of the CPLA program - just click on
http://www.ala-apa.org/certification/cplacourses.html.
CPLA invites you to apply to become a candidate or a course provider. The next deadline for provider and candidate reviews is Dec. 7, 2007. Participants may find applications at the CPLA Web site:
http://www.ala-apa.org/certification/cpla.html. The RFP for providers is here:
http://www.ala-apa.org/certification/cplaproviders.html.
If you have questions, please call the ALA-APA Office. ALA-APA: the Organization for the Advancement of Library Employees is a service organization to the American Library Association and the library community. It has two missions: providing certification in specializations of librarianship and advocacy for salary improvement efforts.
