The State Library Endorsement Program's goals are to improve library service in Iowa by bettering the skills of library staff, provide recognition for public librarians, enhance the public image of librarians and libraries, and provide guidelines library boards may use for creating staff policies.
The State Library offers Endorsements in the following areas:
Directors
General Staff
Youth Services
Trauma-Informed Library Practices
Form
Application for Endorsement & Renewal
Use this form to apply for a new endorsement, request changes to a current endorsement, or renew your endorsement.
Our Endorsement coursework is modular and builds upon itself. All endorsements start with 4 core courses, each made up of several modules. The various endorsements all have different add-ons to that core.
These 4 courses form the foundation of each endorsement we offer. You only need to take them once, even if you seek multiple endorsements.
Library Foundations
Principles of a Noble Profession
City-Library Team and Support Organizations
Library as Place
Principles of Intellectual Freedom
Discussion Section
Introduction to Public Services
Knowing your Community
Providing Library Services
Customer Service
Library Programming
Telling the Library Story
Discussion Section
We're All Tech Librarians
Digital Literacy
Technology in the Library
Discussion Section
Library Law
Overview of Library Law
Open Meetings, Open Records
Serving Families
Common Q&A
Discussion Section
You'll take the Core Courses plus one elective course from the Director track that best supports your role in the library.
