FAQs

The Teacher Librarian Credential program is designed to prepare fully-qualified, outstanding K-12 teacher librarian professionals, and emphasizes meeting the information, educational technology and reading needs of diverse populations. 

The Teacher Librarian Services credential allows you to be a Teacher Librarian in any K-12 school in California. You MUST have a California teaching credential to be eligible to start working towards the Teacher Librarian Services Credential. It supplements your initial teaching credential (e.g., multiple subject, single subject, special education, designated subjects, adult education).

The librarianship program started in 1968, and has offered a school librarianship credential that has been state-accredited since the 1970s. A master's degree has been part of the program off and on, and was re-established in 2003. In 2007 the program expanded to a comprehensive library program. In 2011 the program became the Educational Technology and Media Leadership program in order to reflect the technology and leadership skills of 21st century librarians and information professionals. The Teacher Librarian Services Credential program exists within that framework.

The courses are designed to be useful in any library setting. International students who do not meet the eligibility for the Teacher Librarian Services credential should consider applying to the MS in Educational Technology & Media Leadership program. 

Yes: the MS in Educational Technology & Media Leadership. This Master's enables you to work in school libraries. The master's degree also prepares you to work in other types of libraries/information organizations. This program has been nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education since 2001, and the credential is also regionally and state accredited. The program is not ALA-accredited at this point. If you are applying for both the Teacher Librarian Services Credential and the MS in Educational Technology & Media Leadership, you do need to have a teaching credential.

Please visit the MS in Educational Technology & Media Leadership program website.

The Teacher Librarian Services credential program is a fully online program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires that international graduate students applying on an F1 or J1 visa must be enrolled in at least 8 units every semester, but 6 of these units must be in-person or hybrid courses. Since this program is fully online, international graduate students on an F1 or J1 visa are not eligible to apply. Please visit the International Applicants tab for more information.

Each year there are notices of more K-12 Teacher Librarian positions open in southern California than there are candidates to fill the positions (see the California School Library Association). The majority of the credential candidates currently enrolled in the CSULB Librarianship Program already work in their respective school library media centers under an emergency credential.

Representative professional websites for Teacher Librarians include:

• California School Library Association
• California Library Association
• American Association of School Libraries
• Computer Using Educators

Along with CSULB, some of these organizations provide scholarships; check their web sites for details.

The Profession of Library and Information Science

In the broader field of librarianship, graduates work in school, academic, public, and "special" sectors (e.g., museums, agencies, industry). Most librarian positions incorporate three aspects of library work: user services, technical services, and administrative services. Librarians and other information professionals must have knowledge of a wide variety of information sources, be organized and analytical, be able to collaborate and manage, have good communication and often instructional skills; most need technical skills. Some of these careers require additional education or experience.

Request to be added to the prospective student list for this program.

Visit the GSO Tips & Tutorials for Applying page for an application flow chart, advice on how to be a competitive applicant, and free resources and tips on the statement of purpose, letters of recommendations, and resume.

Visit the GSO Tips & Tutorials for Applying page for an application flow chart, advice on how to be a competitive applicant, and free resources and tips on the statement of purpose, letters of recommendations, and resume.

The program has been designed to be completed in two years. The Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program is offered in a 100% online format. Teacher Librarian Field experiences will continue to be on-site whenever possible. Nine courses (27 units) are required for the credential: six technology and media courses, two librarianship courses, and Field Experience. 

The GPA requirement is a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. For more information please see the Eligibility page.

Two. The program admissions committee has instructed you to input the names and email addresses for only two recommenders. Therefore, please do not input more than two recommenders.  For additional information on recommendations, please visit the Online Application Submission. 

The application deadline is also the deadline for the letters of recommendation. Please note there is a short buffer period in which recommender(s) may submit evaluations after the application deadline. Please make sure your recommender submits the recommendation as close to the deadline as possible for full consideration. For additional information on recommendations,  please visit the Online Application Submission. 

There are many organizations sponsoring scholarships for Librarianship students. Beyond those listed on this page, other library groups also sponsor scholarships, which are announced to current students.

• California School Library Association offers these scholarships and awards (deadline in June)
• Leadership for Diversity Scholarship recognizes the need for teacher librarians who reflect the diversity of California's multicultural, multilingual population.
• The California Library Association lists information about their scholarships.
• The College of Education and CSULB award close to 150 scholarships to deserving students each year, including some awards specifically granted to Librarianship students (Barbara Ward Memorial Scholarship, the Orange County Library Association, and Friends of the Library at Leisure World).

The Teacher Librarian Services credential program is a fully online program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires that international graduate students applying on an F1 or J1 visa must be enrolled in at least 8 units every semester, but 6 of these units must be in-person or hybrid courses. Since this program is fully online, international graduate students on an F1 or J1 visa are not eligible to apply. Please visit the International Applicants tab for more information.

In 2012 the California State Department of Education approved a Special Class Authorization for Teacher Librarians to become instructors of record to teach information and digital literacies. CSULB offers the course needed to meet this voluntary authorization: ETEC 523. Newly admitted students in the Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program will automatically receive the added authorization because ETEC 523 is a required course in the credential program.

Current Teacher Librarians will be able to add this authorization to their library credential by taking ETEC 523 which is offered online through CSULB's Open University- Special Class Authorization website.

Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program Coordinators are not allowed to sign these annual renewal forms; they must be signed by staff in the CSULB Credential Center, located in Ellis Education Building, (EED) Room 42. The Credential Center may also be contacted at 562-985-4109 or ced-credentials@csulb.edu.

Requirements include:

1. admission to the CSULB Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program
2. completion of at least 6 units of coursework toward the Teacher Librarian Services Credential within the lifetime of your emregency library permit
3. estabishment of a Credential Center file. The Credential Center may be contacted at 562-985-4109. Please allow at least a 10 working day turnaround for an evaluation and completion of the CL 469 Emergency Permit Renewal Form. 

You may be asked to show an official transcript if courses were not taken at CSULB, and coursework must be pre-approved by the program coordinator

Graduate school fees are set by the CSU Board of Trustees each academic year. The current fee structure may be found on the Enrollment Services website. The approximate cost as of Fall 2023 is $13,620 for the entire Teacher Librarian Credential program for California residents (fees will vary based on two- or three-year tracks).