Emergency Pennsylvania School Library Media Certification, K-12

Due to the shortage of certified school library media specialists in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education may grant emergency School Library Media Certification to an individual "at the request of the employing public school entity when a position has been advertised and no fully qualified and properly certificated applicant is available."[1] Applicants are then required to "enroll and complete a minimum of nine (9) semester hours of coursework each year within a state-approved teacher preparation/certification program which leads to full Pennsylvania professional certification in the area for which the Emergency Certificate is granted."[2] Reissuance of the emergency permit requires that the applicant complete a minimum of nine semester hours of coursework each school year until the program of study is completed.

The Department of Library Science offers students with emergency Pennsylvania School Library Media Certification the option to substitute a site visit and a portfolio for the internship requirement. Students who select this option and are successfully evaluated receive three "life experience credits" from the College of Education and Human Services. Site visits and portfolio assessments are normally done by the department's certification advisor.

To request the site visit/portfolio option, students with emergency certification should contact their academic advisor as early in their program of study as possible. Specific requirements are listed below.

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The student is responsible for selecting a day for the visit.

During the visit, the evaluator will:

• observe the student's teaching;
• spend time talking with the student;
• tour the library and assess its collection and programs;
• talk to the student's mentor librarian;
• talk to administrator who observes/evaluates the student; and
• talk to two or three classroom teachers with whom the student has collaborated.

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The student's portfolio should contain the following components:

• resume;
• clearances;
• evaluations by administration;
• commendations;
• exemplary unit/lesson plans;
• evidence of school community service, such as grants, committees, school groups/activities that librarian sponsors, etc.;
• evidence of professional growth, e.g., classes, conference attendance, inservices for teachers, programs for parents, etc.;
• teaching certificate;
• statement of future plans for the library, professional growth, etc.;
• photographs with students, displays, etc.; and
• a statement demonstrating that all of the roles delineated in Information Power are being/will be met by the candidate.

The student may also choose to include any other artifacts that he/she thinks are critical to the evaluation.