CHAPTER 133. CERTIFICATION OF LIBRARY PERSONNEL Sec.
133.1. Purpose of certification.
133.2. Procedure for certification.
133.3. Certification committee.
133.4. Professional librarian.
133.5. Provisional librarian.
133.6. Library assistant.
133.7. Reciprocity with other states.
133.8. In-service training programs.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 133 issued under section 201(13) of The Library Code (24 P.S. § 4201(13)) (Repealed; replaced by 24 Pa.C.S. Chapter 93 (relating to Public Library Code)), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 133 adopted October 21, 1963, unless otherwise noted.
§ 133.1. Purpose of certification.
The purpose of certification by the State Librarian is to implement the responsibility to counsel local libraries on minimum standards, as required in section 201(5) of the Library Code (24 P.S. § 4201(5)). Certification is also designed to facilitate recognition of qualified persons by the local library boards of the Commonwealth when employing staff, extending services to larger service areas, and entering into cooperative service arrangements.
(Editor’s Note: The Library Code (24 P.S. § § 4101—4503) was repealed by the act of November 1, 2012 (P.L. 1683, No. 210) and replaced by 24 Pa.C.S. Chapter 93 (relating to Public Library Code).)
Source The provisions of this § 133.1 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (6902).
§ 133.2. Procedure for certification.
(a) Application. Application for certification shall be made in accordance with instructions provided by the State Library.
(b) Examination. Certification examinations will be prepared under the auspices of the State Librarian and shall be offered as often as necessary, but not less than once annually. Applicants for examinations will be notified of the time and place of the examination not less than 6 weeks prior to the date of the examination.
(c) Certificate. Upon successful completion of certification requirements, an applicant will be awarded an official certificate prepared by the State Library, which will be valid without requiring renewal but, upon recommendation of the State Librarian, will be subject to annulment by the Department of Education under section 1211 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 12-1211). Persons to whom certificates are issued by virtue of the position they held on June 14, 1961, as prescribed in section 201(13) of the Library Code (24 P.S. § 4201(13)), and in § § 133.4(3), 133.5(3) and (4) and 133.6(4) and (5) (relating to professional librarian; provisional librarian; and library assistant), will be certified only so long as they remain in the same category of position held at the time of certification.
(Editor’s Note: The Library Code (24 P.S. § § 4101—4503) was repealed by the act of November 1, 2012 (P.L. 1683, No. 210) and replaced by 24 Pa.C.S. Chapter 93 (relating to Public Library Code).)
Source The provisions of this § 133.2 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (6902).
§ 133.3. Certification committee.
The State Librarian may appoint a certification committee consisting of three members, no more than one of whom shall be an employe of the State Library. The State Librarian shall be an ex officio member of the committee. The certification committee shall advise the State Librarian with respect to all certification matters.
Source The provisions of this § 133.3 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (3269).
§ 133.4. Professional librarian.
Upon application to the State Librarian a certificate of professional librarian shall be issued if the applicant meets one or more of the following requirements:
(1) Has at least a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, or equivalent accrediting agency, and has a 5th-year degree in library service from a school approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the American Library Association.
(2) Successfully passes an examination given under the auspices of the State Librarian demonstrating knowledge and experience equivalent to the academic requirements of paragraph (1).
(3) Was employed on June 14, 1961, as a head librarian in a Commonwealth public library, the individual service area of which contained more than 20,000 persons.
(4) Was employed in a Commonwealth public library on June 14, 1961, in a position which was classified by the employer as requiring a professional librarian.
(5) Is certified as a professional librarian or the equivalent by another state or country, and who, to the satisfaction of the State Librarian has qualifications equivalent to those required of other applicants.
Source The provisions of this § 133.4 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (3269).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 133.2 (relating to procedure for certification).
§ 133.5. Provisional librarian.
Upon application to the State Librarian, a certificate of provisional librarian will be issued if the applicant meets one or more of the following requirements:
(1) Has at least a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, or equivalent accrediting agency, and has completed at least 12 credit hours of courses in library service at institutions approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or equivalent accrediting agency.
(2) Successfully passes an examination given under the auspices of the State Librarian demonstrating knowledge and experience equivalent to the academic requirements of paragraph (1).
(3) Was employed on June 14, 1961, as a head librarian in a Commonwealth public library, the individual service area of which contained from 10,000 to 19,999 persons.
(4) Was employed in a Commonwealth public library on June 14, 1961, in a position which was classified by the employer as requiring a provisional librarian.
(5) Is certified as a provisional librarian or the equivalent by another state or country, and who, to the satisfaction of the State Librarian has qualifications equivalent to those required of other applicants.
Source The provisions of this § 133.5 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (3269) to (3270).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 133.2 (relating to procedure for certification).
§ 133.6. Library assistant.
Upon application to the State Librarian a certificate of library assistant will be issued if the applicant meets one or more of the following requirements:
(1) Has completed at least 2 academic years of college education in an institution approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, or equivalent accrediting agency, and has successfully completed 9 credit hours of courses in library service at institutions approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or equivalent accrediting agency.
(2) Has completed at least two academic years of college education in an institution approved by the appropriate Commonwealth agency or accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, or equivalent accrediting agency, and has completed a minimum of one year of in-service training in library work that has been approved by the State Librarian.
(3) Successfully passes an examination given under the auspices of the State Librarian demonstrating knowledge and experience equivalent to the requirements in paragraph (1) or (2).
(4) Was employed on June 14, 1961, as a head librarian in a Commonwealth public library, the individual service area of which contained 9,999 persons or less.
(5) Was employed in a Commonwealth public library on June 14, 1961, in a position which was classified by the employer as requiring a library assistant.
(6) Is certified as a library assistant or the equivalent by another state or country, and who, to the satisfaction of the State Librarian has qualifications equivalent to those required of other applicants.
Source The provisions of this § 133.6 amended October 4, 1985, effective October 5, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 3503. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (3270) and (56579).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 133.2 (relating to procedure for certification); and 22 Pa. Code § 141.21 (relating to local libraries).
§ 133.7. Reciprocity with other states.
Upon application to the State Librarian, persons holding equivalent certification from other states and countries which have entered into reciprocal agreements with the State Librarian to give full faith and credit to Pennsylvania certificates may be certified as professional librarians, provisional librarians, or library assistants without having to pass a written examination.
§ 133.8. In-service training programs.
Libraries, library schools, colleges, universities and library extension agencies which develop in-service training programs of systematic on-the-job instruction in library work designed to meet the certification requirements set forth in this Chapter shall submit the plans for the programs to the State Librarian for approval if such programs are intended to satisfy certification requirements.
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