Dear Colleagues,

NJSL is proposing the following amendments to the NJ Professional Librarian Certification rule. Amendments are proposed to clarify definitions, clarify and update the requirements for certification eligibility, clarify the issuing agency of a previously issued certificate, and to broaden representation of the State Library staff person on the Appeals Board to the State Library rather than one bureau of the State Library.

The comment period for this rule expires on April 3, 2015. Please let me know if you have any questions. If you wish to make an official comment, please note that in the subject line of the email.

Best wishes,

Victoria

Following are the proposed changes. Attached is the entire proposal.

Full text of the proposed amendments follows (additions indicated in boldface thus; deletions indicated in brackets [thus]):

SUBCHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

15:23-1.2 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Accredited” means an institution that has a professional education unit [and] that

has successfully completed a review process and been certified by the American Library Association[.  The institution must meet state, professional and institutional standards as determined by a review of its individual programs and] or the appropriate national body analogous to and recognized by the American Library Association as having the overall capacity to prepare professional librarians.

…

[“Certified” means an individual who holds a valid New Jersey Professional Librarian’s Certificate.]

…

SUBCHAPTER 2. PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIAN CERTIFICATION

15:23-2.2 Administration of professional librarian certification

(a) (No change.)

(b) On behalf of the State Library, the Office of the Registrar at Thomas Edison State College shall issue a Professional Librarian Certificate to librarians to serve in public libraries based upon [certified scholastic records] the requirements in this chapter.

(c) (No change.)

15:23-2.3 Requirements for certification eligibility 

(a) A candidate for certification shall hold a master’s degree in an approved professional librarian education preparation program from:

1. A program accredited by the American Library Association for the preparation of librarians; or

[2. A Master of Arts in School and Public Librarianship – Public Librarianship Track from the Rowan University Graduate School; or

3. A college or university in a country other than the United States meeting the equivalency requirements of a credentials evaluation agency approved by the Thomas Edison State College. The credentials evaluation agency will analyze the applicant’s coursework and prepare a report for submission to the Registrar’s Office. The report shall include the following:

i. Studies equivalent to a master’s degree from a college or university in the United States with a program accredited by the American Library Association for the preparation of librarians; and

ii. A course-by-course listing and the semester-hour equivalent of each area of graduate level study.]

2. A program accredited by an appropriate national body analogous to and recognized as having a formal accreditation process by the American Library Association.

(b) (No change.)

15:23-2.4 Certificate issuance

(a) (No change.)

(b) The Registrar’s Office shall issue a replacement certificate providing there is proof that the Department of Education prior to April 24, 2004, or Thomas Edison State College thereafter had previously issued the certificate, that the holder has completed the appropriate application, attached a statement of loss, and submitted the required fee.

SUBCHAPTER 4.   APPEAL PROCEDURES

15:23-4.1 Board of [appeals] Appeals for professional librarian certification

(a) (No change.)

(b) The Board will consist of one professional librarian from the State [Library’s] Library [Development Bureau] and two additional members, as the State Librarian shall appoint.

(c) The professional librarian from the State [Library’s] Library [Development Bureau] shall be the chair of the Board of Appeals.

Victoria Rosch

Deputy State Librarian

Director, Library Support Services

vrosch@PROTECTED 

609.278.2640 ext.157