Continuing Education - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why should I be concerned about continuing education?
A. Continuing education is vital to staying current with trends and updates in the library profession. Ours is a field that continually adjusts to include innovations and new technology. This dynamic environment leads to changes in job duties and what it means to be a librarian. Participating in continuing education with UW-Madison's School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) will provide you with the opportunity to learn new skills and adapt to a changing profession.
Q. Who takes continuing education courses?
A. The students in our courses are from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some work in libraries and have a high school diploma; others are library directors and have master's degrees. For certain students, the courses are required to obtain or maintain their certification. For others, the courses are voluntary. We welcome anyone who is interested in our courses to register, regardless of their previous education or position in a library.
Q. Who teaches continuing education courses?
A. Our courses are taught by working librarians or instructors at SLIS. This is to ensure that courses will be practical and relevant to library workers.
Q: What is the difference between continuing education units (CEUs) and graduate credit?
A. When you take a continuing education courses at SLIS, you earn CEUs. CEUs are a nationally recognized unit for professional continuing education. One CEU is approximately equal to 10 contact hours. CEUs do not transfer to graduate credit. Graduate credit at SLIS may only be earned by enrolling in graduate level courses. Please note that the Education2Go: Online Skills Courses do not carry CEUs or credit.
Q. What is an LEU?
A. LEU stands for Library Education Unit. The State Library of Indiana has certain educational standards for librarians in their state. All continuing education courses must be approved by them and they assign LEUs to each course. SLIS is an approved LEU provider for Indiana residents.
Q. What is Wisconsin Public Library Director Certification?
A. In Wisconsin, all public library directors must be certified. Certification has three levels and is based on the size of a library's community. If directors do not have their master's degree in library science, they must take four continuing education courses to become certified. SLIS offers all four of those courses. This is a brief description of the certification process. Please see dpi.wi.gov/pld/cert.html for full details.
Q. When are certification courses offered?
A. Certification courses are both online and in Madison. Our online courses are 12-weeks long and are offered on a semester basis. During fall, Basic Public Library Management and Collection Development are offered. During spring, Public Library Administration, Fundamentals of Cataloging, and Basic Reference are offered. Certification courses in Madison are for one week during the summer. The schedule of these courses varies based on finding adequate space on campus and instructor availability. SLIS does its best to offer these courses on a rotating basis.
Q. Is Wisconsin public library director certification good in my state?
A. Each state has unique certification requirements for library directors and workers. Please check with your state library agency to find out what is required where you work.
Q. How do the online classes work?
A. Unless otherwise noted, the majority of online classes are asynchronous. Students may login at their convenience to read the course content and participate in the discussion boards. Classes are organized for students and their instructor to work through material on a week-by-week basis. Each week, everyone moves to the next lesson and new discussion topics.
Q. I don't need certification but I'm interested in Continuing Education. Do you have anything for me?
A. Yes! The Continuing Education Services office offers several elective continuing education courses every semester. The course offerings usually change every semester, so be sure to check back on the CES website for an up-to-date schedule. The elective classes generally last from six to eight weeks.
Q. How do I register for continuing education courses?
A. You may register by telephone, mail, fax, or online. Please see course descriptions for registration information.
Q. Where do I get a copy of my student record?
A. Send a written request, including your name, the address to which the transcript should be mailed, and your signature, along with a check payable to UW-Extension for $5.00 for each transcript needed to: Student Records Department, The Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706. The Records department usually has a one-day turn-around time after they receive a request. Their telephone number is 608-262-1953