For Portfolio Evaluators

The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program is looking for experienced librarians willing to evaluate portfolios submitted by Library Support Staff (LSS) candidates in the LSSC Program.We encourage you to read the information below and to apply to be a portfolio evaluator.

The LSSC Program awards certification to LSS who complete six of ten competency sets.  Three of the sets are required: Foundations of Library Service; Communication and Teamwork; and Technology.  LSS must also choose three more competency sets from these electives: Access Services; Adult Reader’s Advisory, Cataloging and Classification; Collection Management; Reference and Information Services; Supervision and Management; and Youth Services.

LSSC candidates can demonstrate their competency by completing an approved course or by submitting a portfolio in a competency set. Portfolios submitted by candidates will be evaluated by librarians with experience in the library area covered by the competency sets. 

Librarians may submit applications to become a portfolio evaluator. All portfolios are available online through the LiveText Portfolio Program. Librarians choose the content areas they wish to evaluate and can choose how many portfolios they wish to evaluate in a year. Evaluators must participate in a short training session either in person at an ALA conference or meeting, or participate in an online webinar. Evaluators volunteer their time.

You can review the requirements that candidates must fulfill by looking at Developing and Submitting a Portfolio. To help develop successful portfolios, candidates can review Portfolio Development Suggestions (PDS) for all the competency sets. Some candidates may choose to use these suggestions to develop their portfolios.

Two portfolio evaluators will assess each portfolios and, if they do not agree on the assessment, a third evaluator will also review the portfolio.

As an evaluator, you will:

Questions? Contact LSSC.