Credentials, competencies, and certification

Atkinson, Joan L.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/555 Copy

Description

Title

Credentials, competencies, and certification

Author(s)

Atkinson, Joan L.

Issue Date

1989

Keyword(s)

• Children's libraries
• School librarians
• Youth services librarians
• Certification

Abstract

The process of licensing shapes the future of the profession by restricting entrance to those who meet certain qualifications. Licensing is a gatekeeping function, at least theoretically protecting the public from incompetent performance. Before we assess where we are and where we hope to be in relation to this topic, distinctions need to be made among terms. Credentials is a general term indicating that the holder is duly entitled to claim a certain status. In librarianship, the M.L.S. degree is often held to be the requisite credential for entrance into the field. The term competencies is more specific, indicating a listing of abilities and skills, often task-oriented, that one should possess to be a good practitioner. Certification is an endorsement to practice in a specialized area, such as medical or school librarianship. While these terms apply to individuals, accreditation applies to educational programs which meet certain standards of quality and relevance in preparing future practitioners. Accreditation of programs leading toward the M.L.S. degree is conferred by the American Library Association (ALA). Accreditation of the more narrowly-focused specialization of school librarianship is a function of the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and, usually, a state department of education. The current picture of licensing for the youth specialization is disparate and dismaying.

Publisher

Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Series/Report Name or Number

Allerton Park Institute (28th : 1986)

ISSN

0536-4604

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/555

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Institute sponsored by University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, cosponsored by the Youth Divisions of the American Library Association: American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), Young Adult Services Division (YASD)

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