Preparing New Hampshire's Librarians and Trustees for the 21st Century: a Report of the New Hampshire Task Force on Trustee and Librarian Education (continued)

Appendix A
Task Force Membership

Becky Albert
Special Projects Coordinator
N.H. State Library
20 Park St.
Concord, N.H. 03301-6314
(603) 271-3183
balbert@finch.nhsl.lib.nh.us
John C. Barrett
LSTA/State Data Coordinator
N.H. State Library
20 Park St.
Concord, N.H. 03301-6314
(603) 271-2865
jbarrett@finch.nhsl.lib.nh.us
Lillian Edelmann
President
N.H. Trustees Association
112 Gile Rd.
Nottingham, N.H. 03290
(603) 679-2269
fpe@tiac.net
Linda Tiernan Kepner
Assistant Director
Peterborough Town Library
Peterborough, N.H. 03458
(603) 924-8040
LTKOI@AOL.COM
Kay Klein
President, NHEMA
Peter Woodbury Elementary School
180 County Rd.
Bedford, N.H. 03110
kay@kleins.mv.coartello
Thomas A. Ladd
Library Education Coordinator
N.H. State Library--North Country Office
Lancaster, N.H. 03584
(800) 462-1726 (N.H. only)
tadd@finch.nhsl.lib.nh.us, or
nhsl@ncia.net
Cindi Ellen O'Connor
Young Adult Librarian
Bedford Public Library
3 Meetinghouse Lane
Bedford, N.H. 03110
(603) 472-3023
cindio@bedford.lib.nh.us
Sue Palmatier
Library Development System Coordinator
N.H. State Library--North Country Office
(800) 462-1726 (N.H. only)
spalmatier@finch.nhsl.lib.nh.us, or
slnh@ncia.net
Peggie Partello
Assistant Director/Head of Public Services
Mason Library
Keene State College
221 Main St.
Keene, N.H. 03435-3201
(603) 358-2729
ppartell@keene.edu
Catherine Redden
Director
Lane Memorial Library
Hampton, N.H. 03842
(603) 926-3368
credden@hampton.lib.nh.us
Christie Sarles
Special Projects Assistant
N.H. State Library
20 Park St.
Concord, N.H. 03301-6314
Diane Tebbetts
Associate Librarian
Dimond Library
University of New Hampshire
Durham, N.H. 03824
(603) 862-1535
Kendall Wiggin
N.H. State Library
20 Park St.
Concord, N.H. 03301-6314
. .

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Appendix B
Library Employee/Volunteer Survey

NOTE: If you work in more than one library, please complete a separate survey for each job.

1. In what type of library are you currently working? (Please circle one)

public (549) elementary school (53) law (0)
high school (64) academic (4) hospital (0)
middle school (27) corporate (0) other (please specify) (25*)


* State agency/school combination, elementary/middle, middle/high, elementary/middle/high

2. What is your title and/or job classification? (See below)

 

3. Please indicate the salary for your current job.


a. If part-time (fewer than 30 hours), $ per hour and hours per week
b. If full-time (30 or more hours) [please circle the appropriate range]:

less than $10,000/yr. (15) 20,001-25,000/yr. (50) 40,001-50,000/yr. (28)
10,001-15,000/yr. (29) 25,001-30,000/yr. (31) 50,001-60,000/yr. (3)
15,001-20,000/yr. (42) 30,001-40,000/yr. (50) over 60,000/yr. (0)

 

4. a. How many years have you been employed in your current job?
b. In what county is your job located?
(See below)

5. How many years have you been employed in the library profession? (See below)

6. a. Have you been employed in the library profession outside New Hampshire? Yes (158)
b. Do you have any type of certification from another state?


If yes, please describe--(See below)

7. What are your educational attainments? (Circle all that apply; for postsecondary degrees, indicate what the degree is in).

  • High School Diploma (135)
  • Associate's degree (47)
  • GED (2)
  • Bachelor's degree (180)
  • PLT/LT Certificate (41)
  • Master's degree (144)
  • Doctoral degree (3)

8. Please list any other certificates and/or degrees you hold, and indicate the field (See below)

9. In what year did you complete your highest degree?

  • 1990s - 78
  • 1980s - 89
  • 1970s - 163
  • 1960s - 104
  • 1950s - 47
  • 1940s - 42
  • 1930s - 15

10. Are you currently working toward a degree or certificate? Yes (88)
If yes, in what field? (See below)

11. Have you taken a credit course related to your work in the past (circle one):

  • year - 146
  • 2 years - 38
  • 3 or more years - 156
12. How often do you attend job-related workshops? (Please circle one):
  • 3 or more times per year - 237
  • twice per year - 129
  • once per year - 131
  • less than once per year - 0
  • as required - 1
  • occasionally - 1
  • not at all - 175
13. What impedes your continuing education? (Please circle all that apply):
  • cost of workshops/courses, etc.
  • no incentive at work
  • lack of CE programs that meet your needs
  • child care
  • time away from work
  • location
  • lack of interest
  • other (please specify)

14. Do you think additional CE opportunities should be available? (Circle Yes or No):
Yes - 413
If yes, what subject areas do you think would be useful?--(See below)

15. Would you be interested in library-related courses at the (please circle):

  • Associate's level - 74
  • Bachelor's level - 48
  • Graduate level in-state - 152
  • Post-graduate level in-state - 78
  • Distance learning opportunities - 87
  • In-service - 0
16. a. Do you think there should be a formal certification program* for public librarians?
  • Yes - 231
  • No - 93
  • Not sure - 400

*Not to be confused with the LT certificate or other certificate program


b. Do you think there should be a formal certificate program for librarians in other types of libraries?

  • Yes - 202
  • No - 59
  • Not sure - 454
    If yes, please specify which field--(See below)
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Question #2: What is your title and/or job classification? (includes all types of libraries except school)
Return to above

Job Title Number of Responses -- Percentage
Library Assistant 85 14.6%
Volunteer 81 13.8%
Director 80 13.6%
Librarian 48 8.2%
Library Aide 42 7.1%
Assistant Librarian 41 7%
Children's Librarian 34 5.8%
Clerk 23 3.9%
Reference Librarian 18 3.1%
Department Head/Supervisor 16 2.7%
Circulation Librarian 16 2.7%
Media Generalist 16 2.7%
Page 13 2.2%
Substitute 10 1.7%
Assistant Director 9 1.5%
Library Technician 9 1.5%
Coordinator 5 .8%
Administrative Assistant/Secretary 5 .8%
Program Assistant 4 .6%
Media Specialist 4 .6%
School Librarian 3 .5%
Media Supervisor 3 .5%
Technical Services Librarian 2 .3%
Library Consultant 2 .3%
Maintenance Supervisor 2 .3%
Paraprofessional 2 .3%
Media Aide 2 .3%
Literacy Center Coordinator 1 .2%
Technology Coordinator 1 .2%
Collection Development Librarian 1 .2%
A-V Librarian 1 .2%
Bookmobile Librarian 1 .2%
Curator 1 .2%
Interlibrary Loan Librarian 1 .2%
Branch Librarian 1 .2%
Young Adult Librarian 1 .2%
Adult Services Librarian 1 .2%
Building Librarian 1 .2%
Library Instructional Aide 1 .2%
Elementary School Librarian 1 .2%
Total 588 100%

Question 4b: In what county is your job located?
Return to above

Belknap 32
Carroll 40
Cheshire 47
Coos 19
Grafton 41
Hillsborough 120
Merrimack 75
Rockingham 133
Strafford 40
Sullivan 26

Question 5: How many years have you been employed in the library profession?
Return to above

Years -- Number of Responses -- Percentage
1 33 5.8%
2 36 6.4%
3 35 6.2%
4 33 5.8%
5 28 4.9%
6 20 3.5%
7 34 6.1%
8 37 6.6%
9 24 4.3%
10 34 6.1%
11 16 2.8%
12 18 3.2%
13 15 2.7%
14 15 2.7%
15 20 3.5%
16 6 1%
17 19 3.3%
18 15 2.7%
19 13 2.3%
20 24 4.3%
21 11 2%
22 10 1.8%
23 10 1.8%
24 7 1.2%
25 10 1.8%
26 9 1.6%
27 2 .4%
28 3 .5%
29 1 .2%
30 9 1.6%
31 1 .2%
32 3 .5%
33 0 -
34 1 .2%
35 2 .4%
36 0 -
37 1 .2%
38 0 -
39 0 -
40 1 .2%
41 2 .4%
42 2 .4%
43-59 0 -
60 2 .4%
Total 562 100%

Question 6b: Do you have any type of certification from another state? Return to above
(The following list represents states/bodies from which certification was received):
  • Connecticut
  • Indiana
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • England
  • Japan
  • Other: United States Department of Defense
Description of certification from other states/countries:
  • Librarianship
  • School Media Generalist/Specialist
  • Public Librarian
  • Library Techniques
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education
  • Teacher
  • Children's Literature
  • Art Education
  • Computer Literacy
Question 8: Please list any other certificates and/or degrees you hold, and indicate the field.
Return to above

  • ABA
  • CAD/CAM training
  • Ceramics instructor
  • Computer information
  • CNA/H/HHA
  • EMT
  • English
  • Firefighter
  • Gerontology
  • GROW
  • Infant massage instructor
  • Insurance broker
  • Library media
  • Massage therapist
  • Media generalist
  • Media supervisor
  • Medical assistant
  • Medical technology
  • Mechanical technician
  • MedLine
  • Nursing
  • Russian language
  • Social sciences
  • Sign language
  • S.O.L.V.E. instructor
  • Word processing
Question 10: Are you currently working toward a degree or certificate? If yes, in what field?
Return to above

  • A.A.
  • Art
  • B.A.: Theatre Arts & Speech, Communication, Library administration, General Studies
  • Behavioral studies
  • Computer applications
  • Education
  • Educational Administration
  • Elementary education
  • Graphic arts
  • Guidance counselor
  • High school diploma
  • J.D.
  • Library technician
  • M.A.: American studies, English literature, education, TESOL
  • M.B.A.
  • M.L.S. degree
  • Media generalist
  • Network administration
  • Preschool education
  • Teaching certificate
  • Wildlife management
Question 14: Additional CE opportunities that should be made available.
Return to above
  • Acquisitions
  • Age-level programming
  • Budgeting
  • CAD
  • Cataloging
  • Children's literature
  • Collection development
  • Copyright
  • Classification and cataloging
  • Computer networks
  • Computer troubleshooting
  • Desktop publishing
  • Disaster planning
  • Fiscal management
  • Fundraising
  • Genealogy
  • Grant writing
  • Internet
  • Legal issues
  • Library administration
  • Librart advocacy
  • Library automation
  • Literacy
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Networking
  • New Hampshire Statewide Library Development System
  • Paraprofessional focus groups
  • Paraprofessional roles
  • Periodicals
  • Personnel administration
  • Preservation
  • Programming
  • Psychology
  • Public relations
  • Reference
  • Resource sharing
  • Serials management
  • School/Public library partnerships
  • Space planning
  • Special collections
  • Special education needs
  • Storytelling
  • Strategic planning
  • Technology
  • Telecommunications

Question 16b: Do you think there should be a formal certificate program for librarians in other types of libraries? If yes, please specify which field.
Return to above
  • Academic librarianship
  • Paraprofessional
  • Reference librarianship
  • Research librarianship
  • Special librarianship (hospital, law, medical, museum, business, genealogical, etc.)
  • School librarianship

Additional comments from respondents:
  • There should be formal certification (for librarians) to maintain the level of professionalism.
  • Attendance at professional conferences (i.e., NELA) should be stressed.
  • Getting an M.L.S. seems increasingly irrelevant.
  • In-service training should be offered at work to help staff deal with the many changes that are happening now.
  • Staff development is the key to good library service.
  • Salary levels need to rise.
  • The information revolution might necessitate greater cohesion among librarians of all types.
  • The CLL classes have filled in many gaps, but I wish they counted for more than a certificate usable only in New Hampshire.
  • Salary scale needs to meet the twentieth century!
  • Librarians should get education credits for attending workshops or conferences, just as teachers do.
  • Bring in the distance learning programs.
  • Recognize those who have earned the LT certificate from CLL.
  • A certificate or professional librarian's degree should be required for the director's position.
  • We as a profession need to completely rethink continuing education in terms of the services public libraries should offer.
  • Return on the financial investment for certificate or M.L.S. degree is too little.
  • Course hours and costs for LT program should be more accessible.
  • I am opposed to any sort of state licensing.
  • How about getting experiential credit?
  • Could use more CE for degreed librarians.
  • Performance, energy, ideas are more important.
  • It is important to have a librarian who is knowledgeable with the computer; who has the ability to obtain information requested by the [reader.]
  • The library must act as a resource center.
  • Bring back the bachelor's degree.
  • Need locations that are closer to work or home; it's difficult to drive 100 miles to attend a course.
  • Taking courses keeps you in touch with reality. You get support and reinforcement from fellow students and the courage to make changes in your own workplace. A well-trained instructor opens your mind.
  • Cost, travel time, time commitments cause problems.
  • Shouldn't experience count for something?
  • Workshops can be as valuable as a credit course.
  • Non-library organizations such as CONFER offer [useful] CE seminars.
  • I like the fact that I can apply LT course credit toward attaining a college degree.
  • Nobody likes the term paraprofessional. Why not create a program that awards/confers the title associate librarian.
  • Addressing the processes to be used and standards to be set is a very important function of the state library association (NELA).
  • There needs to be training for people who operate small town libraries.
  • Job market waxes and wanes and so does certification.
  • I think the current LT certificate program is good, but I don't believe it should be mandated.
  • Continuing education is always important, but the cost for courses often exceeds the benefits for those working in a small library.
  • This survey really does not apply to volunteers.
  • We need more courses/workshops dealing with young adults.
  • I have found the scheduling of LT courses frustrating.
  • The cuts being made to public school monies threaten school libraries and librarians. I would like to see some public awareness campaign to help prevent these cuts.
  • Let's have more graduate courses in New Hampshire--preferably in Concord or Plymouth. One week graduate courses in the summer would be a great way to update. Many graduate courses are now being offered with the one week format, but nothing in library science.
  • I have 39 hours in library graduate courses from UHN, URI, and Plymouth State. Colleges would drop the library courses so I would go somewhere else. As the credits are from three colleges I can't get a master's degree. Library courses are so scarce--colleges need to get together.
  • School librarians should hold a recent master's degree in library and information science.
  • I had to take my certificate classes in Brattleboro, VT, from Castleton State College.
  • I would love to get an M.L.S. but hesitate due to travel involved.
  • All librarians should have some type of degree or certificate.
  • I find I am able to locate courses/workshops for areas in which I am growing, although cost and time often keep me from attending.
  • Anyone with a decent education and some computer skills can work in a library; the head librarian needs certification.
  • The educational environment requires specific skills and knowledge involving curriculum, teaching styles/techniques, and learner styles and abilities. Therefore, the education of the librarian goes beyond information accessing and requires education courses.
  • I'm not sure about formal programs because it might eliminate good people who might not have the proper qualifications.
  • There are many people without professional training who function as librarians. Anything that gives recognition to professional training and status would be a plus.
  • I think public libraries should be encouraged to hire at least one person with an M.L.S.
  • In the ever-changing world where information is not only a commodity but a key one, the dispensers of it must stay current or be passed by--libraries can be king or dead.
  • I have made inquiries about a formal certification program and would be very interested in going further than the Library Techniques certificate that I now have.
  • A formal certifcate in public, academic, and special libraries would assure that the field stays professional and positions would not be filled by non-degreed people.
  • School librarians should have teaching degrees.
  • I wish that the classes you offer for public or state librarians for certification would also be applicable to school library assistants.
  • As we do not call all persons in a hospital "doctor," why call all persons in a library "librarians." We need credentials, certification, and recognition as professionals.
  • School librarians need education training as well as library training. A bachelor's degree is OK as long as it includes education as a primary subject and library as secondary.
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Table of Contents and text of this report | Appendices C-I