91´«Ã½

CHICAGO - As part of a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program, a program of the 91´«Ã½-Allied Professional Association, will be offering Registration Assistance Awards of $175 to library support staff, half of the fee to register to become a candidate for library support staff certification.

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.

The awards are being offered jointly by the LSSC Program, several state library agencies across the U.S. and the Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) of the 91´«Ã½.

The participating state library agencies are the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records; the District of Columbia; the Idaho Commission for Libraries; the Mississippi State Library; the Oregon State Library; Pennsylvania Office of the Commonwealth of Libraries; the Washington State Library; and the Wyoming State Library.

Each state library agency will offer between two and four Registration Assistance Awards. Library support staff who are interested in becoming certified should contact the state library agency in these states. Each state will be setting its own deadline to receive applications.

The Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) of the 91´«Ã½ will also announce its participation in the awards in the near future. Library support staff will also be invited to submit applications to LSSIRT.

Nancy Bolt, co-project director of LSSC, said, “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 degree or its equivalent and have worked for the equivalent of one year (1,820 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 plays in the delivery of quality library service. To achieve certification, support staff must achieve six of 10 competency sets either through development of an online portfolio or taking LSSC approved courses. The competency sets are: Foundation 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