Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Public Instruction
Chapter PI 6 - Public Libraries
Subchapter II - Public Librarian Certification
Section PI 6.03 - Public librarian certification
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง PI 6.03
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) "Administrator" means the
head librarian or other person appointed by a library board under s.
43.58(4),
Stats., or by a library system board under s.
43.17(4),
Stats., to direct and administer the library or system.
(am) "Contact hour" means 60 minutes of
continuous participation in a learning activity.
(b) "County library" means a library created
under s.
43.57,
Stats.
(c) "Joint library" means a
library created under s.
43.53,
Stats.
(d) "Municipal library"
means a library created under s.
43.52,
Stats.
(e) "Population" means the
population reported by the U.S. department of commerce, bureau of the census in
the last federal decennial census.
(2) GENERAL. Administrators employed by a public library system, county library system or any municipal public library, except a library in a city of the first class, supported in whole or in part by public funds, shall hold certification as described in this section. Applications for librarian certificates under this section shall be made in writing to the division. Certificates are effective on the date of approval by the department through the last day of the expiration month indicated on the certificate.
(3) REGULAR CERTIFICATION. The following requirements and grades of certification are established:
(a)
Grade I.
1. Administrators of municipal, joint and
county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county population
of 6,000 or more and administrators of public library systems shall hold grade
I certification.
2. Grade I
certificates under this paragraph shall be granted for a 5-year period to
applicants holding both a bachelor's degree from a college or university
approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing and a
master's degree from a library school program accredited by the American
library association.
3. Grade I
certificates under this paragraph may be granted to an applicant holding a
master's degree from an unaccredited library school program if the division is
satisfied that the program leading to that degree is substantially equivalent
and the applicant's professional experience is demonstrative of the ability to
provide professional library services.
(b)
Grade II.
1. Administrators of municipal, joint and
county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county public
library population of between 3,000 and 5,999 persons shall hold at least grade
II certification.
2. Grade II
certificates shall be granted to applicants meeting the requirements under this
subdivision or subd. 3. Grade II certificates under this subdivision shall be
granted for a 5-year period to applicants holding a bachelor's degree from a
college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than
statewide standing, including or supplemented by earning 12 semester credits of
coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas:
a. Public library administration.
b. Advanced public library
administration.
c. Organization and
management of library collections.
d. Public and community services.
3. Grade II certificates under
this subdivision shall be granted for a 5-year period to applicants holding a
bachelor's degree along with a minor in library science from a college or
university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide
standing, including or supplemented by earning 3 semester credits of coursework
or the equivalent, approved by the division, in advanced public library
administration.
(c)
Grade III.
1. Administrators
of municipal, joint and county public libraries with a municipal, joint
municipal or county public library population under 3,000 persons shall hold at
least grade III certification.
2.
Grade III certificates under this paragraph shall be granted for a 5-year
period to applicants having earned 54 semester credits, half of which shall be
in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college or university approved by an
accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or
supplemented by earning 12 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent,
approved by the division, in the following areas:
a. Public library administration.
b. Advanced public library
administration.
c. Organization and
management of library collections.
d. Public and community services.
(4) PERMANENT CERTIFICATES ISSUED PRIOR TO MAY 1, 1979. Permanent certificates issued under certification rules in effect prior to May 1, 1979, shall continue to be valid.
(5) CERTIFICATION RENEWAL.
(a) Certificates under sub. (3) may
be renewed upon evidence which satisfies the division that in the 5-year period
prior to recertification the holder has participated in 100 contact hours, at
least 10 hours of which must be technology related, of continuing education in
librarianship which is either directly related to the position held or will
permit advancement in the profession
(b) The public library system to which the
library belongs or the division, when a public library does not belong to a
public library system, shall assist in determination of requirements for
continuing education and validate records submitted evidencing a renewal
applicant's participation in continuing education under this
subsection.
(6) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION. The division may grant temporary certification at the appropriate grade levels. An applicant shall apply for temporary certification within 3 months of employment in order to be eligible for such certification. Temporary certification for a one-year time period may be issued as follows:
(a)
1. To an
applicant for grade I certification who meets the requirements under sub. (3)
(a) 2. but who has not completed a master's degree.
2. The applicant shall provide the division a
written schedule for completing the requirements under subd. 1.
3. The division shall approve the proposed
schedule before the certificate may be granted under this paragraph.
4. The certificate under this paragraph is
applicable for up to one year and is not renewable.
(b)
1. To an
applicant for grade II certification who holds a bachelor's degree but
otherwise does not meet the requirements under sub. (3) (b) 2. or 3.
2. The applicant shall provide the division a
written schedule for completing the requirements under subd. 1.
3. The division shall approve the proposed
schedule before the certificate may be granted under this paragraph.
4. The certificate under this paragraph may
be renewed on an annual basis up to 3 times, for a total coverage not exceeding
a period of 4 years, provided the applicant has completed the public library
administration course by the end of the first year and at least one of the
remaining courses specified under subd. 1. annually thereafter. The certificate
is not renewable a fourth time.
(c)
1. To
an applicant for grade III certification who meets the requirements under sub.
(3) (c) 2., but who has not earned 12 semester credits of coursework or the
equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas:
a. Public library administration.
b. Advanced public library
administration.
c. Organization and
management of library collections.
d. Public and community services.
2. The applicant shall provide the
division a written schedule for completing the requirements under subd.
1.
3. The division shall approve
the proposed schedule before the certificate may be granted under this
paragraph.
4. The certificate under
this paragraph may be renewed on an annual basis up to 3 times, for a total
coverage not exceeding a period of 4 years, provided the applicant has
completed the public library administration course by the end of the first year
and at least one of the remaining courses specified under subd. 1. annually
thereafter. The certificate is not renewable a fourth time.
(d)
1. To an applicant for certification who was
previously certified and whose certification has been expired for at least one
year and who has not served as the administrator of a public library or public
library system in Wisconsin during that period.
2. The applicant shall meet the basic
requirements for initial certification under sub. (3) at the appropriate grade
level.
3. An applicant who receives
a temporary certificate under this paragraph shall complete at least 20 contact
hours of continuing education under sub. (5) during the temporary certification
period.
4. The certificate under
this paragraph is applicable for up to one year and is not renewable.
5. The applicant will be eligible for
certification under sub. (3) upon completion of the 20 contact hours of
continuing education as described under sub. (5).
(7) PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION. The division may grant provisional certification at the appropriate grade level for a 5-year period to the following applicants provided they continue to work at the same library and comply with sub. (5):
(a)
An applicant who was employed as the administrator for a public library in
which he or she was originally certified at the appropriate grade level but is
no longer properly certified due to the population growth of the jurisdiction
in which the public library he or she is employed at is located.
Note: Administrators of public libraries affected by a population increase will be notified by the division when the new population figures are available and certification at the appropriate grade level will be effective at that time.
(b)
An applicant who was employed as the administrator for the public library in
which he or she is currently employed at the time the library became a member
or part of the public library system or a joint public library.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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