The Montana State Library offers a certification program and a variety of continuing education and training opportunities for Montana librarians, library staff, and trustees.
The Montana Library Certification Program was established to promote continuing education and to recognize librarians and trustees who continue to expand their knowledge and skills to provide improved services for patrons and communities. Public library directors must be certified in order for the library to meet the current standards and receive state aid. Certification is voluntary for all other librarians and trustees.
Directors must complete the Library Administrator Track which involves the following:
- 60 continuing education credits earned in a 4-year period
- Minimum of 20 credits earned in the Library Administration CE category
- Minimum of 10 credits in each of the other CE categories: Collection Management and Technical Services, Library Services to the Public, and Technology
- Balance of credits are electives
Newly hired directors will have 4 years to earn a certificate. The State Library will send the director and board a letter with information about the certification program and the date the requirement must be met.
- 15 continuing education credits earned in a 4-year period which includes:
- Minimum of 10 credits in the Library Administration CE category
- Balance of credits are electives and can be earned in any CE category (Library Services to the Public, Collection Management and Technical Services, and Technology)
For library staff, the skills developed through continuing education and voluntary certification can contribute to job satisfaction, advancement, and improved quality of services to patrons. Work with your supervisor to create a plan that will help you reach your goals.
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60 continuing education credits earned in a 4-year period which includes:
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Minimum of 10 credits in each of the 4 CE categories (Library Administration, Library Services to the Public, Collection Management and Technical Services, and Technology)
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Balance of credits are electives
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Login to ASPeN to access the Continuing Education (CE) system to keep track of your continuing education credits and to apply for certification.
CE events are added
- automatically if you register for an event within ASPeN
- added from the continuing education list in ASPeN
- input as an independent learning event
Once you have the requisite number of credits, you can submit your certification record through ASPeN. A supervisor will be contacted to verify your certification record after the MSL CE Coordinator reviews the submission.
Access ASPeN Help for more information.
MSL Learn - take courses offered by MSL on our own online learning platform (COMING JANUARY 2023)
Great sites for FREE on-demand learning for librarians. Unique logins or accounts may be required.
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The Task Force will be sharing its recommendations with the Network Advisory Council and MSL Commission in spring 2023. Please visit the ASPeN event calendar for more information.
Task Force
- Jennifer Ball, Stillwater County Library Director
- Colet Bartow, Continuing Education Coordinator, Montana State Library
- Carmen Clark, Bozeman Public Library Staff
- Miranda Evenson, Sidney-Richland County Library Staff
- Pam Henley, Statewide Consulting Librarian, Montana State Library
- David Ingram, ImagineIF Libraries Trustee
- Tina Peterson, Harlowton Public Library Director
- Robyn Scribner, Montana State Library Commission Member
The task force members are charged with the following:
1. Participate fully in the activities of the task force as a representative of library sizes, types, geographic location, and staff roles
2. Review and consider continuing education needs and priorities as identified by MSL Core Services Committees and the Network Advisory Council
3. Review and consider continuing education needs and priorities as identified by public library trustees, directors, and staff
4. Understand the 2022 Public Library Standards and changes to CE requirements
5. Evaluate the current Goals for the CE Program and make recommendations for changes to the MSL Commission
6. Evaluate the current Continuing Education (CE) program requirements and make recommendations for changes to the MSL Commission
ASPeN Committee Page – all committee information, including meeting details and materials can be located from this convenient page.