Welcome to the NHLA Paralibrarians Homepage

Hello!

In fall 2013, the READS section of the NH Library Association presented a program describing the Massachusetts Paralibrarian Certification system. A small group of interested library staff met in January and April 2014. It was determined that the effort would be best served by forming a new section of the NH Library Association. The Executive Board approved the trial section in June 2014, and the Paralibrarian section became official in November 2014. With their gracious permission, our program was modeled after the Massachusetts Paralibrarian Certification program, which was in turn modeled after the State of New York Program.

The Paralibrarian Certification is a voluntary program designed to recognize the involvement and contributions of Paralibrarians in New Hampshire. Paralibrarians (non-MLS staff) support the missions of school, public, academic, and special libraries throughout the state by providing important services, being involved in professional development activities, and demonstrating commitment to their work. The certification is not a substitute for a Master of Library Science degree or any other degree or certificate.

This program is designed to identify the achievements of participants by assigning point values to various activities. Applicants register for one of four increasingly challenging achievement levels. Each level is reached by accumulating a minimum number of points from within six Categories of Library Service (Public Services, Reference and Information Services, Technical Services, Technology, Administration/Management, and General) based on three Sources of Expertise in these broad categories (Experience, Education, and Professional Activities). The points needed for certification levels two through four must be earned within the three years immediately preceding the application.


Getting Started

Members of the Paralibrarian Certification Review Board are available to answer questions about the certification program. Find the Board contact information, and a list of Certification Mentors on our About the Section page.


Have Questions? Ask Away!

We have mentors available to help you with your application journey. You may find your answer on our frequently asked questions page. We also hold a bi-annual information session where we walk you through the application page by page. Check out our calendar for the next one on the schedule.


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Contact Paralibrarians

President: Julie Spokane, Amherst Public Library, jspokane@amherstlibrary.org


Make check payable to NHLA-Paralibrarians and mail check to:
New Hampshire Library Association Paralibrarian Section
c/o Carla Ferreira, cferreira@amherstlibrary.org
Amherst Town Library
14 Main St, Amherst, NH 03031
Van Stop: Amherst/Amherst Town Library

Please submit a pdf file of your application, via email, to Carla Ferreira at cferreira@amherstlibrary.org. You will receive an email back from Carla, confirming receipt of your file, within 7 days.


Suggest A Class

Contact the Education Chair directly with class requests/ideas

Hope Garner, Griffin Free Library, Auburn, libraryadvocate62@gmail.com