On January 25, 2010, ALA-APA began accepting applications from potential candidates interested in achieving the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC). The LSSC Program is the first national, voluntary certification program for library support staff. This new certification program–the first national, voluntary certification program for library support staff–will help library support staff achieve recognition for current and new skills and abilities and increase access to continuing education opportunities.

The LSSC is open to any library support staff person with a high-school diploma or its equivalent and the equivalent of at least one year of full-time experience in a library with the last five years. Applicants do not have to be a member of ALA.  The application fee is $325 for ALA members and $350 for non-ALA members.

A certification program was sought for many years by library support staff.  In 2003, the ALA Congress on Professional Education III asked ALA to study LSS certification, ALA responded by including planning for a certification program in ALA’s strategic plan, ALA2010.  Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, ALA developed the LSSC over the past three years.

More information about the LSSCP is available online at http://www.ala-apa.org/lssc.

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