About the Program

A collaborative program between the University of Maine, the University of Maine at Farmington, and the University of Southern Maine.

The online Graduate Certificate in Library and Media Specialist empowers teachers, educational leaders, and resource specialists to facilitate and advocate for equitable access to information. Aligning to the current standards for school librarianship by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association for School Librarians (AASL), you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to manage school libraries and information services. 

You’ll also learn how to:

• Become an effective educator of learning in the digital age, including instruction, assessment, and curriculum development
• Demonstrate efficient and ethical information-seeking behavior and teach this behavior to students
• Apply theories of Library Information Science to school libraries, including teaching, management, and leadership
• Strategically plan, facilitate, and advocate for flexible, open access to library resources and services
• Be an ethical, forward-thinking leader in the field of education and school libraries

This certificate can be stacked with the Advanced Library and Media Specialist Graduate Certificate (9 credits) to complete the required 24 credits to earn Maine certification in Library and Media Specialist (071). Contact the Maine Department of Education for more information about the requirements and attainment of the certification in Library and Media Specialist (071).

Our curriculum covers the principles and processes of successfully managing a school library, including management, program development, and evaluation of contemporary school libraries.

Those who can benefit from this program are:

• Current paraprofessionals working in school libraries who would like to become certified school librarians
• New educators interested in a career in school libraries

This certificate can lead to conditional Maine certification in Library and Media Specialist (071). Specific information regarding Maine certification is available through the Maine Department of Education.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of librarians and library media specialists is projected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032, with about 13,700 openings annually. The median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $64,370 in May 2023, higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060.