Proactive Approaches to Improving the Salaries and Status

Proactive Approaches to Improving the Salaries and Status of Our Profession ALA-APA and You: A Winning Partnership for Library Employees All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

A History of ALA-APA Established in 2002 Provides services in two primary areas: 1) Certification 2) Advocacy for improving salaries for library workers Governance is independent but interlocked with ALA. All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Salary Advocacy ALA-APA Salary Survey – Librarian: Public and Academic ALA-APA Salary Survey – Non-MLS: Public and Academic (2007) Library Salary Database Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today’s Leaders The ALA-APA Better Salaries and Pay Equity Toolkit. Download it free! Pay Equity Bibliography All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Newsletter The ALA-APA Newsletter at Your Fingertips! Career Advancement HR Law HR Practice Recruitment Salaries and Pay Equity Statistics Support Staff Work Life All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Celebrate the Tuesday of National Library Week Submit a Star at http: //ala-apa. org/nlwd/ All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Now a few words about Certification ALA-APA defines certification as: usually offered by a professional association; voluntary; requiring that applicants meet minimum criteria, such as experience or education; granting the authority for graduates to use a designation (e. g. , CPLA®); including an assessment covering a broad range of skills; ensuring the privacy of participants; and requiring that certified professionals adhere to procedures to retain the designation. All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Certified Public Library Administrator Goals Professional development. Practical professional experience. Improve professional expertise. Demonstrate that you have acquired a nationally and professionally recognized body of knowledge and expertise Improve the quality of library service. All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

CPLA Competencies Core standards Budget and Finance Management of Technology Organization and Personnel Administration Planning and Management of Buildings Elective standards Current Issues Fundraising Marketing Politics and Networking Service to Diverse Populations All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Would you like to SAY THIS at your next staff meeting? The technology plan I wrote for a CPLA course has been adopted for our library. Our library received a grant based on my project for a CPLA course. I have discovered that there are communities that our library is not reaching. I am more confident in everything I do in the library! All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

CPLA Process for Applicants Apply at http: //alaapa. org/certification/application/ Pay the fee Take courses - http: //alaapa. org/certification/courses-offered/ Submit Course Completion Forms Complete four core and three electives within 5 years Enjoy the CPLA designation (until you have to renew)! All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Why is Support Staff Certification Needed? 69% of all library staff are library support staff In a national survey LSS said they * supported national certification (87%) supported national LSS standards (76%) believe certification would improve public service (66%) *Survey conducted by the ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) in 2004 All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 13

The Library Support Staff Certification Program is: § Affordable and accessible § A mix of required and elective competencies § Establishes national, basic standards § Evaluates prior learning and new learning § Reciprocal at state level (if approved by state) § A valid assessment of competencies § Not a guarantee of raise or promotion All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 14

Competency Sets Required Foundations of Library Service Communication and Teamwork Technology Electives Access Services Adult Readers’ Advisory Services Cataloging and Classification Collection Management Reference and Information Services Supervision and Management Youth Services All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 15

Competency Set Example: Foundations of Library Service Library Support Staff will know: 1. The mission and roles of a library in its community and the mission of libraries in general. 2. The ethics and values of the profession, including an understanding of the Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Code of Ethics, freedom of information, confidentiality of library records and privacy issues. 3. The roles of Library Support Staff and other staff in libraries. 4. The responsibilities of and the relationships among library departments or functional areas. All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 16

LSSC Program Assessment Methodology: or How we know you know the competencies • Recognize prior learning and new learning • Two methods: • Portfolios • Approved courses 17 All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Portfolio Development Suggestions Suggested activities for demonstrating each competency (you can create your own) Upload to portfolio when done All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 18

Eligibility and Procedures High school diploma or equivalent One year of library experience, from any type of library Four years to complete 6 competency sets Fee of $325 for ALA members (includes subscription to online portfolio) Certification is for four years Renewal will be required All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 19

Library Managers can help! Encourage staff to participate Provide financial assistance Grant time off to complete coursework/portfolios Allow interaction with staff for assignments Recognize accomplishments Give candidates increased responsibility All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) 20

Top Ways to Get Involved With ALA-APA! Volunteer for one of ALA-APA’s committees: (Salaries & Status of Library Workers, Certification) Stay current on issues effecting the library workforce by reading: Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today’s Leaders or write for Library Worklife. Download the Advocating for Better Salaries and Pay Equity Toolkit and find ways to use it in your library to improve salaries. All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

Top Ways to Get Involved with ALA-APA! Donate to ALA-APA has no members and depends on your contributions. Celebrate National Library Workers Day—the Tuesday of National Library Week. Subscribe to either the Money. Talks or Union electronic discussion lists. Attend ALA-APA meetings and programs at ALA Midwinter and Annual Conferences. Learn the facts and initiate discussions about improving salaries, pay equity, and certification with your colleagues, managers, trustees, and others. Spread the word! All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)

For more information Visit the website: www. ala-apa. org Contact Staff: Ian Lashbrook : ilashbrook@ala. org Lorelle Swader: lswader@ala. org All about the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)