Coordinating Continuing Education for Library/Media/Information Personnel: A Plan for Pennsylvania.

Overview & Synopsis

Developed with information and guidance from a task force and interest group, as well as from two surveys of continuing education providers, this plan for improving library/media/information services in Pennsylvania proposes coordination of continuing education for their personnel, including trustees and paraprofessionals. After a description of the project's background and methodology, recommendations are made concerning these aspects of the plan: coordinating structure, needs assessment, continuing education resources, communication and promotion, recognition system and quality control, regional continuing education councils, evaluation, and funding. A statement on roles summarizes the division of responsibilities of individual participants, individual libraries/media centers/information centers, district library centers, networks and cooperatives, library/media/information education, state library, and commissions on basic and higher education. Included is a section on the continuing education environment: national and state models, certification/recertification, Pennsylvania studies/plans/statutes, Pennsylvania providers and clienteles, and assets and barriers. Appendices provide a bibliography, a list of the interest group members, the two surveys used in the study and summaries of the results, a model regional continuing education council description, a job description for continuing education coordinator, a timetable for implementation of the plan, a plan budget for 1980-2, and a glossary. (JD)