Summer Summit 2017 is in Fort Hall, Idaho was fun and productive!  Watch for Summer Summit 2018 registration to open in the Spring of 2018 and plan to come to Boise in July, 2018.  Hope to see you there! 

The Library Media Specialist Endorsement from the University of Idaho is a distance learning option for school librarians who already have a teaching certificate.

Continuing Education activities provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries (as of January 1, 2009) MAY be eligible for use as professional development credit by certificated Library Media Specialists. According to the teacher certification renewal guidelines from Idaho State Department of Education, three of the six required credits must be taken for university or college credit. However, in-service hours may be used as a substitute for up to three of the six semester credit hours required for certificate renewal. Fifteen (15) contact hours are equivalent to one in-service hour.

Approved Continuing Education Activities

The following ICFL continuing education activities have been approved by the State Department of Education Certification office as Professional Development in-service:

  • SPLAT 101
  • YALSA Teens & Technology
  • LiLI Database Trainings
  • LiLI-Unlimited Trainings
  • Read To Me Spring Workshop
  • WebJunction Idaho Courses
  • ICFL Alternative Basic Library Education and Supplemental Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE & SABLE)

  • Discuss with your school district superintendent or professional development chairperson the courses you wish to take. Provide information about the course, including content, value to your work as a library media specialist, number of contact or clock hours and course provider.
  • If approved by your district, complete Form B7, secure signature of District Superintendent or Professional Development Chairperson, and keep document with other records and transcripts to validate the hours counting toward your 6 professional development credits.
  • Resources:
    Renewal of Idaho Certificate/Credential –

ABLE and SABLE:

These on-line courses at the ICfL website are excellent introductory and intermediate training for library paraprofessionals.  The courses cover the basics very well and will get anyone on the right path to running a school library.

College of Southern Idaho:

Offers an Associate Degree in Library and Information Sciences.  This four semester program prepares students for paraprofessional positions in libraries or for transfer to a university.  Please contact the College of Southern Idaho for all questions about courses, costs and credit transfers.  If you wish to use an ICfL Professional Development CE Grant to defray course costs, contact LibGrants@libraries.idaho.gov for details on qualifying and applying for a CE Grant.

ALA’s Support Staff Resources:

Find loads of information about library and support staff  issues, work environments, training and certification opportunities, and more.

Join a Professional Organization:

Idaho Library Association:

The Idaho Library Association is Idaho’s professional association for librarians.  LibIdaho, the listserv managed by ILA, is an excellent way to tap into the knowledge of Idaho’s librarians right from your inbox.  (Membership in ILA is not required to subscribe to LibIdaho.)   It is not so busy, though that it will clutter up your inbox.  If you post a question or announcement, it will reach a wide audience of all types of librarians.

Pacific Northwest Library Association:

PNLA’s membership includes librarians from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana and Washington.  It is the organization that sponsors the Young Readers Choise Awards and PNLA Leads.  The PNLA Quarterly publishes librarian-authored articles, and has an option for peer review.