FAQs about the Certification Exam
1. Q. Where can a person find information on the New Mexico State Library’s Certification Program?
A. Information is available through the following methods.
- New Mexico State Library’s web site: http://www.nmstatelibrary.org
- US Mail:
New Mexico State Library
Library Development Services
Attention: Certification
1209 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
- Toll free phone number: 1.800.340.3890.
2. Q. Why is there a Certification Examination?
A. Library director certification is required for librarians in communities over 3,000 (up to 15,000), as shown by the last federal decennial census, to receive public funds under the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 4.5.2.
A certification program is statutorily mandated in the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA), Chapter 18, Articles 2.8 through 2.18.
NMSA 18.2.8 The State Librarian is hereby authorized to issue certificates to librarians. He shall have authority to prescribe and hold examinations, or require submission of credentials to establish the qualifications of those seeking certificates as librarians, and to issue certificates of librarianship to qualified persons, in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as he may provide.
New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA), Chapter 18 is available at:
3. Q. Who is the Certification Exam for?
A. Library director certification is required for librarians in communities over 3,000 (up to 15,000), as shown by the last federal decennial census, to receive public funds under the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 4.5.2.
In addition, any person who is actively engaged in, or expects to engage actively in library service may apply for a certificate.
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.14
Certification requirements under NMSA 18.2.15 do not apply to libraries of public schools or county law libraries.
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.15.D
4. Q. What are Grade I and Grade II certification?
A. Grade I Certification is required for the chief librarian [director] of a community having a population of 3,000 – 10,000, as shown by the last federal decennial census. Certification without examination requires completion of two (2) years of undergraduate work plus 9 hours of library science courses from an accredited college or university. See also NMSA 18.2.11
Grade II Certification is required for the chief librarian [director] of communities having populations of 10,000 – 15,000, as shown by the last federal decennial census. Certification without examination: graduation from an accredited college or university with a minor in library science or twenty-one (21) semester hours of library science courses beyond the requirements of a Grade I Certification (30 hours).
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.12
5. Q. What is Temporary Certification?
A. Temporary Certification may be issued for all grades and is issued for a one year period by the State Librarian in special cases upon written recommendation from a library board or the governing body of the community. Temporary Certification may be renewed or extended for a one-year period upon written recommendation from a library board or the governing body of the community.
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.13
6. Q. What is Permanent Professional Certification?
A. Permanent Professional Certification is required for the chief librarian (director) in communities that have populations of more than 15,000, as shown by the last federal decennial census. An MLS or MLIS from a college or university accredited by the American Library Association is required.
A Permanent Professional Certificate is required for the chief librarian (director) of any library:
- supported in whole or in part by public funds, and service a municipality or other political subdivision having a population in excess of 15,000 persons as shown by the last federal decennial census; or
- of any state agency or state-supported institution.
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.10
7. Q. How does a person prepare for the Certification Exam?
A. The Certification Study Guide is available at no cost on the NMSL web site at
8. Q. When are the Certification Exams offered?
A. You may take the exam at any time. It is up to you to identify an individual willing to serve as a proctor for the exam. That person should contact Eleanor Bernau, Continuing Education Coordinator, at the State Library directly, either by phone or email (see contact info below) and provide job title and other pertinent information. On your application, there is a place to indicate the approximate date and the specific location (generally a New Mexico public library) where you would like to take the exam.
Contact information: Eleanor Bernau, Continuing Education Coordinator, New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507, Phone: 505-476-7869 or 1-800-340-3890, eleanor.bernau@state.nm.us
9. Q. How much does Certification cost?
A. Fees for the examination are listed below.
- Grade I, with examination ($10.00)
- Grade I, without examination (Please send official college transcripts.) ($5.00)
- Grade II, with examination ($10.00)
- Grade II, without examination (Please send official college transcripts.) ($5.00)
- Permanent Professional (Please send official college transcripts.) ($5.00)
- Temporary (Please enclose written recommendation.) ($10.00)
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.16
10. Q. How does a person apply for the Certification Exam?
A. Fill out the application found at
http://www.nmstatelibrary.org and mail the application and a check for the appropriate amount made out to the Department of Cultural Affairs to:
Eleanor Bernau, Continuing Education Coordinator
New Mexico State Library
Library Development Services
Attention: Certification
1209 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
See also New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 18.2.14
11. Q. What passing grade is required on the Certification Exam?
A. A minimum grade of 70% on the exam is required for certification.
12. Q. Does Certification need to be renewed?
A. Once certification for the appropriate level is attained, it does not need to be renewed.
13. Q. What happens if a person doesn’t pass the Certification Exam?
A. Under one application and paid fee, a person may take the exam up to three times in order to attain a passing grade.
14. Q. Why should someone take the Certification Exam?
A. Reasons for becoming certified:
- Library director certification is required for librarians in communities over 3,000, as shown by the last federal decennial census, to receive public funds under the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 4.5.2.
-
Personal reasons for becoming certified:
- Commitment to the profession of librarianship.
- Personal fulfillment.
- Career enhancement.
New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA), Chapter 18 is available at:
http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0
