Library Frequently Asked Questions

State Funding

1. School and Library Improvement Block Grant FAQs

Additional Funding Sources

1. What grant opportunities are available for books and libraries?
2. How are school libraries funded in California?

School Library Staffing

1. Are classified library employees required to meet the paraprofessional requirements under No Child Left Behind (NCLB)?
2. Where is library paraprofessional training offered in California?
3. What credentials are required to be a library media teacher in California?
4. Which California colleges and universities offer the library media teacher credential?
5. Will a school lose its WASC accreditation if it doesn't have a credentialed library media teacher in the library?
6. How does a library media teacher from another state get credentials and transcripts evaluated for California requirements?
7. Where is help offered for those developing new school library programs?
   

Additional Funding Sources

1. What grant opportunities are available for books and libraries?

State grant opportunities focused on library improvement include the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) (Outside Source), Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (NCLB Grant) (Outside Source), and the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries (Outside Source).

The Money Hunt: Top state and federal grants for books and classroom materials, by Scott Knickelbine. School Library Journal, October 2003.    Back to top

2. How are school libraries funded in California?

The California Department of Education collects annual information about California public school libraries. Based on responses from about 50% of California Kindergarten through grade 12 schools, the following funding sources were indicated:

Back to top

School Library Staffing

1. Are classified library employees required to meet the paraprofessional requirements under No Child Left Behind (NCLB)?

Please see No Child Left Behind Paraprofessional Requirements Frequently Asked Questions.
From CDE and the State Board of Education.
Back to top

2. Where is library paraprofessional training offered in California?

The following community colleges offer library/information technology courses:

City College of San Francisco (Outside Source)
College of the Sequoias, Visalia (Outside Source)
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo (Outside Source)
Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill (Outside Source)
Foothill College, Los Altos Hills (Outside Source)
Fresno City College, Fresno (Outside Source)
Hartnell College, Salinas, CA (Outside Source)
Palomar College, San Marcos (Outside Source)
Sacramento City College, Sacramento (Outside Source)
San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino (Outside Source)
Santa Ana College, Santa Ana (Outside Source)

Back to top

3. What credentials are required to be a library media teacher in California?

A California library media teacher has both a valid teaching credential and a library media teacher credential. It is considered a pupil services credential. Basic Credential Information (see "Service Credentials") Back to top

4. Which California colleges and universities offer the library media teacher credential?

Find a program to become a California Library Media Teacher (PDF; 72KB; 2pp.)

5. Will a school lose its WASC accreditation if it doesn't have a credentialed library media teacher in the library?

The lack of a library media teacher does not prevent a school from being accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) (Outside Source).. The California School Library Association has developed a document to assist with a review of the school library media program called Focus on Learning: WASC Accreditation and CDE Program Quality Review for Library Media Programs (PDF; 366KB; 15pp.) (Outside Source).   Back to top

6. How does a library media teacher from another state get credentials and transcripts evaluated for California requirements?

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) (Outside Source), not the Department of Education, determines whether credentials from other states are valid in California. If the credential holder is already living in California, the evaluation is done by one of the colleges and universities offering the library media teacher credential. If still out-of-state, the credential holder can request an evaluation by the CTC. Back to top

7. Where is help offered for those developing new school library programs?

On-going staff development is often offered to school library personnel by the county office of education. Schools that contract with the county office for library services may have library consulting services offered as part of the contract. The California School Library Association (CSLA) (Outside Source) frequently offers workshops, conferences, and exhibits. CSLA is developing a list of retired library professionals who are willing to work with schools and districts on school library development. Back to top