Section PI 6.03 - Public librarian certification(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) "Administrator" means the head librarian or other person appointed by a library board under s. 43.58(4), Stats., or by a library system board under s. 43.17(4), Stats., to direct and administer the library or system. (am) "Contact hour" means 60 minutes of continuous participation in a learning activity.(b) "County library" means a library created under s. 43.57, Stats.(c) "Joint library" means a library created under s. 43.53, Stats.(d) "Municipal library" means a library created under s. 43.52, Stats.(e) "Population" means the population reported by the U.S. department of commerce, bureau of the census in the last federal decennial census.(2) GENERAL. Administrators employed by a public library system, county library system or any municipal public library, except a library in a city of the first class, supported in whole or in part by public funds, shall hold certification as described in this section. Applications for librarian certificates under this section shall be made in writing to the division. Certificates are effective on the date of approval by the department through the last day of the expiration month indicated on the certificate.(3) REGULAR CERTIFICATION. The following requirements and grades of certification are established: (a)Grade I.1. Administrators of municipal, joint and county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county population of 6,000 or more and administrators of public library systems shall hold grade I certification.2. Grade I certificates under this paragraph shall be granted for a 5-year period to applicants holding both a bachelor's degree from a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing and a master's degree from a library school program accredited by the American library association.3. Grade I certificates under this paragraph may be granted to an applicant holding a master's degree from an unaccredited library school program if the division is satisfied that the program leading to that degree is substantially equivalent and the applicant's professional experience is demonstrative of the ability to provide professional library services.(b)Grade II.1. Administrators of municipal, joint and county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county public library population of between 3,000 and 5,999 persons shall hold at least grade II certification.2. Grade II certificates shall be granted to applicants meeting the requirements under this subdivision or subd. 3. Grade II certificates under this subdivision shall be granted for a 5-year period to applicants holding a bachelor's degree from a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or supplemented by earning 12 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas: a. Public library administration.b. Advanced public library administration.c. Organization and management of library collections.d. Public and community services.3. Grade II certificates under this subdivision shall be granted for a 5-year period to applicants holding a bachelor's degree along with a minor in library science from a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or supplemented by earning 3 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in advanced public library administration.(c)Grade III.1. Administrators of municipal, joint and county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county public library population under 3,000 persons shall hold at least grade III certification.2. Grade III certificates under this paragraph shall be granted for a 5-year period to applicants having earned 54 semester credits, half of which shall be in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or supplemented by earning 12 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas: a. Public library administration.b. Advanced public library administration.c. Organization and management of library collections.d. Public and community services.(4) PERMANENT CERTIFICATES ISSUED PRIOR TO MAY 1, 1979. Permanent certificates issued under certification rules in effect prior to May 1, 1979, shall continue to be valid.(5) CERTIFICATION RENEWAL. (a) Certificates under sub. (3) may be renewed upon evidence which satisfies the division that in the 5-year period prior to recertification the holder has participated in 100 contact hours, at least 10 hours of which must be technology related, of continuing education in librarianship which is either directly related to the position held or will permit advancement in the profession(b) The public library system to which the library belongs or the division, when a public library does not belong to a public library system, shall assist in determination of requirements for continuing education and validate records submitted evidencing a renewal applicant's participation in continuing education under this subsection.(6) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION. The division may grant temporary certification at the appropriate grade levels. An applicant shall apply for temporary certification within 3 months of employment in order to be eligible for such certification. Temporary certification for a one-year time period may be issued as follows: (a)1. To an applicant for grade I certification who meets the requirements under sub. (3) (a) 2. but who has not completed a master's degree.2. The applicant shall provide the division a written schedule for completing the requirements under subd. 1.3. The division shall approve the proposed schedule before the certificate may be granted under this paragraph.4. The certificate under this paragraph is applicable for up to one year and is not renewable.(b)1. To an applicant for grade II certification who holds a bachelor's degree but otherwise does not meet the requirements under sub. (3) (b) 2. or 3.2. The applicant shall provide the division a written schedule for completing the requirements under subd. 1.3. The division shall approve the proposed schedule before the certificate may be granted under this paragraph.4. The certificate under this paragraph may be renewed on an annual basis up to 3 times, for a total coverage not exceeding a period of 4 years, provided the applicant has completed the public library administration course by the end of the first year and at least one of the remaining courses specified under subd. 1. annually thereafter. The certificate is not renewable a fourth time. (c)1. To an applicant for grade III certification who meets the requirements under sub. (3) (c) 2., but who has not earned 12 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas: a. Public library administration.b. Advanced public library administration.c. Organization and management of library collections.d. Public and community services.2. The applicant shall provide the division a written schedule for completing the requirements under subd. 1.3. The division shall approve the proposed schedule before the certificate may be granted under this paragraph.4. The certificate under this paragraph may be renewed on an annual basis up to 3 times, for a total coverage not exceeding a period of 4 years, provided the applicant has completed the public library administration course by the end of the first year and at least one of the remaining courses specified under subd. 1. annually thereafter. The certificate is not renewable a fourth time. (d)1. To an applicant for certification who was previously certified and whose certification has been expired for at least one year and who has not served as the administrator of a public library or public library system in Wisconsin during that period.2. The applicant shall meet the basic requirements for initial certification under sub. (3) at the appropriate grade level.3. An applicant who receives a temporary certificate under this paragraph shall complete at least 20 contact hours of continuing education under sub. (5) during the temporary certification period.4. The certificate under this paragraph is applicable for up to one year and is not renewable.5. The applicant will be eligible for certification under sub. (3) upon completion of the 20 contact hours of continuing education as described under sub. (5).(7) PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION. The division may grant provisional certification at the appropriate grade level for a 5-year period to the following applicants provided they continue to work at the same library and comply with sub. (5):(a) An applicant who was employed as the administrator for a public library in which he or she was originally certified at the appropriate grade level but is no longer properly certified due to the population growth of the jurisdiction in which the public library he or she is employed at is located. Note: Administrators of public libraries affected by a population increase will be notified by the division when the new population figures are available and certification at the appropriate grade level will be effective at that time.
(b) An applicant who was employed as the administrator for the public library in which he or she is currently employed at the time the library became a member or part of the public library system or a joint public library.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Public Instruction PI 6.03
Emerg. cr. eff. 1-26-72; r. emerg. rule and cr. Register, April, 1972, No. 196, eff. 5-1-72; am. (2), Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; r. and recr., Register, April, 1979, No. 280, eff. 5-1-79; r. (1) (b), cr. (1) (b) to (d), am. (3) (a) to (d) and (5), r. and recr. (6), Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; cr. (1) (e) and (7), am. (3) (a) to (d), (4), (5) (intro.), (b), (d) and (6) (b), r. and recr. (6) (a), Register, January, 1994, No. 457, eff. 2-1-94; am. (2), (4), (5) (intro.), (a) and (b), r. (3) (a) 1., (b) 1., (c) 1., (d) and (5) (c) to (e), renum. (3) (a) 2. to 4. to be (3) (a) 1. to 3. and am., renum. (3) (b) 2. and 3. to be (3) (b) 1. and 2. and am., renum. (3) (c) 2. to be (3) (c) 1. and am., renum. (5) (f) to be (5) (c), r. and recr. (6) and (7), Register, May, 2000, No. 533, eff. 6-1-00; CR 04-027: cr. (1) (am), am. (2), (3) (c) 2., (4), (5) (intro.), (a) and (b), (6) (intro.), (b) 4., (c) 1. and 4., renum. (5) (c) to be (5) (b) Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; corrections in (6) (d) 3. and 5. made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register October 2004 No. 586; CR 10-140: am. (3) (b) 2., (c) 2., (5) (a), (6) (b) 4., (c) 1., 4., cr. (3) (b) 3., renum. (6) (b) 1. (intro.) to be 1. and am., r. (6) (b) 1. a. to d. Register May 2011 No. 665, eff. 6-1-11.