The Advanced Certificate in Children’s and Young Adult Library Services prepares MSLIS students to work with young people in the contemporary public library. With an extensive history in Children’s librarianship–Pratt offered its first course in this area in 1899–students who complete this advanced certificate will have the skills, knowledge, and cultural competencies needed to develop and implement inclusive and creative library services for children and youth.    

Unique to this certificate is the Creative Making option, which allows students  to select one design or arts-oriented course to complete the program in order to gain hands-on, practical experiences with new materials and technologies useful for arts and design programming with children or youth. This option allows Pratt graduates to learn to create programming in library maker spaces, teen tech and media centers, and other programming that engages children and youth in art and crafts. 

Please note that this advanced certificate does not lead to teacher certification as required to work in a New York City or NY state public school. Students interested in pursuing a program that enables library work in NYC or NY state public schools are encouraged to explore Library Media Specialist options available from Queens College, Long Island University, Syracuse University, among other options in the state. This program does support students interested in working in private school libraries that typically do not require New York State teacher certification. 

Admission Requirements

This Advanced Certificate can be taken within the School of Information’s MS in Library and

Information Science program. It can also be taken as a post-master’s program. Applicants to the post-master’s Advanced Certificate program must:

• hold a master’s degree in library science, information science, or similar, from an ALA accredited master’s program;

• submit the online application form, nonrefundable application fee, and official transcripts (uploaded online at application);

• submit a statement of purpose (approximately two pages) online;

• submit a current résumé online; and

• request two letters of recommendation online from employers, professors, or others able to judge the applicant’s potential for graduate study.

After completion of this advanced certificate, students will be able to:
 

1. Understand the role of the public library in supporting literacy development, community-building, and the well-being of families, children, and youth.

2. Navigate culturally diverse communities with sensitivity and awareness.

3. Develop and implement inclusive and creative library services for children and youth.

4. Apply developmental and educational theory to the design of services and the selection of resources (including digital resources) for children and youth.

5. Appreciate the visual, oral, aesthetic, emotional, intellectual, and imaginative appeal of library services and resources (including digital resources) for children, youth, and their families.

6. Identify and discuss current trends, issues, and problems in the area of library services for children, youth, and their families.