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Chapter 7: Hiring the Director
Section: Montana Library Certification Program
Program Manual http://msl.mt.gov/slr/Certification/certman.pdf
The Montana State Library Commission requires that library directors of libraries serving populations greater than 25,000 people have a graduate degree in library or information science. For communities with service area populations less than 25,000, library directors without a master’s of library science degree must have professional certification as defined by the Montana Library Certification Program (pdf).
Local Boards may require certification of other staff as well. Trustees are also encouraged to participate in the program as continuing education is essential for ongoing development and enhancement of library services.
The goals of the Montana Library Certification Program are to:
- Improve library services throughout the state.
- Assist public library directors in meeting the library certification standard adopted by the State Library Commission.
- Encourage library directors, staff and trustees to acquire and improve their skills through basic and continuing education.
- Recognize those who continue to update their skills and knowledge to provide better library services.
- Improve the public image of librarians and libraries.
- Provide guidelines for Boards to use to select and retain personnel.
When a new director is hired, he or she should enroll in the Montana Library Certification Program. This requires the completion of an enrollment application and an enrollment fee. The library director will have three years to complete the required hours of continuing education credits.
Certification needs to be renewed periodically.
