The Professional Endorsement in School Librarianship, offered through Graduate Studies, follows the Standards for Initial Preparation of School Librarians from the American Library Association/American Association of School Librarians (ALA/AASL) and the Virginia Department of Education Licensure Regulations for School Personnel and is approved by the Virginia Department of Education.
The School Librarianship endorsement coursework is designed for individuals with a valid Virginia Collegiate Professional License or equivalent from another state who want to be eligible to add an endorsement for Library Media preK-12 without obtaining a Master’s degree. Coursework prepares individuals to meet the varied roles required of a school librarian in the 21st century - the roles of instructional partner, teacher, information specialist, leader, and program administrator. The concept of the librarian as a catalyst for academic achievement is emphasized, as is the importance of helping our preK-12 students become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. Collaboration, leadership, and technology are themes which run throughout the coursework. Successful completion of these courses meets current eligibility requirements for an endorsement as a school librarian in grades preK-12.
Admission
Applicants to this professional endorsement must possess a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate institutional (formally regional) accreditation agency and a valid Virginia Collegiate Professional License or equivalent from another state at the time of admission.
In addition to the above, applicants must have:
- a 2.75 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- provide a minimum of two recommendations
- a 500-word personal essay
- a résumé
- official transcripts of the bachelor’s degree and any course work completed after that degree.
Clinical Experience
Students in the professional endorsement enroll in SLIB 690 - Clinical Experience in School Libraries. Placements are coordinated by the program director for the school librarianship graduate program. Students enrolled in SLIB 690 complete internship hours in elementary, middle, and high school libraries.
Grading is pass (P) / satisfactory progress (SP) / not pass (NP) and will not be used in calculating the grade point average. A grade of incomplete (I) may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor ONLY if all field clock hours have been successfully completed. Students cannot begin a placement prior to registering for the required course in the semester they wish to begin observing all applicable deadlines.
Professional Portfolio
All students in the professional endorsement in School Librarianship complete SLIB 691 - Professional Portfolio , as the culminating experience and exit requirement. Students are scaffolded by their advisor throughout their coursework regarding professional portfolio requirements. The portfolio is electronic. Grading is Pass/Not Pass. A grade of incomplete (I) may not be assigned. A student who earns a Not Pass is allowed to retake SLIB 691 once. Should the student earn a second Not Pass, the student will be dismissed.
General Requirements: Development of a portfolio provides each candidate opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation, which documents their mastery of school librarian standards and highlights their professional growth.
Administrative procedures for culmination of the process:
- student registers for SLIB 691 - Professional Portfolio;
- portfolio will be reviewed and evaluated by program faculty members;
- candidate will present a synopsis of the Professional Portfolio to the faculty committee and his/her program peers on a date selected within the semester enrolled in SLIB 691 ; and
- instructor will record the collaborated grade of P/NP for the course.
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