Why is NYLA proposing that the legislature amend Education Law to raise the statutory fee for the public librarian’s professional certificate from $5 to $50?
Charging fees for public librarian certification began in 1940 as a measure to reduce the costs incurred by the State in issuing such certification. The fee was three dollars. In 1959 the fee was raised to five dollars. It is noted in a “Budget Report on Bills” from 1959 that “the policy has been to revise the fee schedules periodically so that over a period of years income from fees pays the cost of the programs.” This fee has not been raised since 1959. [SEE: Ed. Law §279] The State Education Department currently issues approximately 500 certificates annually. The implementation of professional development requirements for public librarians will require the State Education Department to devote increased resources to the implementation and administration of the public librarian certification program. The estimated cost to administer the program is estimated at $55,000, annually. The fee increase to $50 would help to partly offset these costs.
