Frequently Asked Questions:

Below are some questions frequently asked by visitors to our web site. Please check back because this page will be updated regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is PSLA? What does PSLA do? When was the web site last updated? How often are committee pages updated? How do I contact PSLA? How do I become a member of PSLA? How do I become a school librarian in Pennsylvania? Where can I locate information about Annual Conference costs, registration, exhibits, and other vital information?

What is PSLA?

The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) is an independent, incorporated professional organization, organized in 1972, for school library professionals who serve in the public, private, and parochial schools of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The mission of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association is to provide school librarians/media specialists with educational opportunities and current information through publications, workshops, seminars, and conferences. Its members are advocates of high standards for librarianship and library media programs in the public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania. PSLA cooperates with state and national organizations to improve all aspects of education and supports the inherent right of the individual to have access to ideas and information. The web site, our virtual resource, serves as a foundation for contact information as well as a bank of professional development programs and resources.

What We Do

The Pennsylvania School Librarians' Association provides school librarians/media specialists with professional development opportunities and current information through publications, workshops, seminars, conferences, and granting Act 48 credit hours. Its members are advocates of high standards for librarianship and library media programs in the public, private, academic, charter, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania. PSLA cooperates with state and national organizations to improve all aspects of education, and supports the inherent right of the individual to have access to ideas and information.

Why should I become a member of PSLA?

PSLA is an outstanding association of approximately 1,300 members that provides workshops, support for school librarians, and opportunities to network at workshops and conferences. It provides the opportunity for leadership growth through joining committees or running for elected office. Additionally, each member of PSLA receives the printed membership directory, our quarterly print journal (Learning & Media), and a discounted rate to attend Annual Conference if membership is attained by the date listed on the membership application and conference application.

How do I become a member of PSLA?

To become a member of PSLA, please mail a completed application to the membership chair. Our membership application is available online at the bottom of the membership committee's web page.

How do I become a member of a specific committee?

Volunteers to serve on committees are always welcome and needed. Committee work provides a valuable opportunity to network with fellow library professionals and to use your talents for the benefit of the association and the profession. To join a committee, please check the appropriate box on the membership application when applying for or renewing your membership. If you have already submitted your membership application for the current year, please contact the President of the Association.

How often is the PSLA web site updated? When was the last time the PSLA web site was updated?

We work hard to keep our web site current. When new information becomes available through committees and others in leadership positions, it is the goal of the Electronic Communications committee to post that information within a week. Timely information, such as a legislative alert, is posted as soon as it is received to ensure our members have the most up-to-date information available.

Several features on our site are designed to make it easier for visitors to determine when our site has last been updated and which information was updated. The most recent date our web site has been updated is located at the bottom of our home page. Because important announcements are located on the news section, the date the news section of our web site has last been updated is located beside the word "news." Finally, new postings are usually listed on the home page (www.psla.org) under "recent updates" to make it easier to locate the newest information. These features are designed to save our visitors time.

Who updates the PSLA web site?

The Electronic Communications Committee works as a team to ensure the site is up-to-date and accurate. The chair of the Electronic Communications Committee serves as the webmaster for PSLA and is responsible for updating the web site. A web technician also assists the chair in posting information.

Why hasn't committee X's web page been updated?

Committee pages are updated when information becomes available from the committee chairs. Some committees submit information to the webmaster more frequently than others due to the nature of their committee's work. For more information about a committee's activities, please feel free to contact the chair of the committee you would like to learn more about.

What is PSLA's address and phone number?

The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association is operated by school librarians who volunteer their time and by officers/board members who are elected by members of the organization. Because of this, the association does not have a headquarters, and there is no single address or phone number for PSLA. Should you have a question, comment, suggestion, or other need to contact our organization, please contact the committee chair, officer, or Board member to which your question best pertains. Email contact information for officers and Board members is located under "PSLA Officers" on the association portion of the web site. Email contact information for committee chairs is located under "committee chairs" on the association portion of the web site. Please note that PSLA respects our members' privacy, and contact information is provided only for those leaders who give permission for it to be posted. For privacy and safety reasons, phone numbers and addresses are not published on the web site unless requested by a specific officer or chair. Phone numbers and addresses are available in the printed membership directory mailed to PSLA members each year.

How can I contact a PSLA officer, board member, or committee chair?

Email contact information for officers and board members is located under "PSLA Officers" on the association portion of the web site. Email contact information for committee chairs is located under "committee chairs" on the association portion of the web site. Please note that PSLA respects our members' privacy, and contact information is provided only for those leaders who give permission for it to be posted. For privacy and safety reasons, phone numbers and addresses are not published on the web site unless requested by a specific officer or chair. Phone numbers and addresses are available in the printed membership directory mailed to PSLA members each year.

I'd like to speak to someone from PSLA on the phone. Where is a list of phone numbers of PSLA officers, board members, chairs, and members?

Phone numbers and addresses are available in the printed membership directory mailed to PSLA members each year. For privacy and safety reasons, phone numbers and addresses are not published on the web site unless requested by a specific officer or chair. If you are a member and have not received your printed membership directory, please contact the membership chair.

I'm interested in becoming a school librarian in Pennsylvania. Where can I locate information about doing so?

School librarianship is a wonderful career! The "become a librarian" section of the web site will provide you with information about this topic as well as links to other pertinent web sites.

I'm a school librarian in another state and am planning to move to Pennsylvania. How do I become certified in the field of school librarianship?

Please look over the "become a librarian" section of our web site under "certification requirements" for links to this information. As teachers, school librarians are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Division of Teacher Information. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has information about their certification requirement as well as information for those who live out of state.

I'm a certified classroom teacher who would like to learn how to become a school librarian. What information is available on your web site to help me with this?

Experienced teachers are wonderful additions to the field of school librarianship. Information about school library programs in our state and certification requirements is available in the "become a librarian" section of the web site. The PSLA Board has approved a position to ensure that our students receive the best possible education. This paper will be posted soon

When is the conference registration packet posted to the web site?

The conference registration packet is posted to the web site as soon as the Electronic Communications Committee receives it from the Conference Chair. Usually, advance registration information is posted in early winter, and conference registration packets are available in late winter or early spring.

How much does it cost to attend a PSLA conference?

The cost of the PSLA conference is listed on the registration packet. Although prices may occasionally increase, pricing information from last year's conference is intentionally left on the web site to provide a general idea of conference costs for school librarians submitting budget information to their districts.

I represent a company and would like to have an exhibit at the Annual Conference. How do I go about doing this?

Please register for our conference using the exhibitor's registration form. Any additional questions you may have may be referred to our conference chair, whose contact information is listed on the conference web page.

How do I volunteer to become a workshop presenter at the Annual Conference?

Volunteers to present workshops on subjects related to school librarianship are welcome. To apply to become a presenter, please complete the presenter application on our conference page.

What is a moderator, and how do I volunteer to do this at Annual Conference?

Moderators are important volunteers who help our conference run smoothly. Moderators introduce speakers, check registration badges at the door, stamp workshop cards to ensure participants receive Act 48 credit, and assist the speaker as necessary. It's a fun and easy way to become more involved in the conference. To become a moderator, please complete the appropriate form on the conference page and return it to the coordinator.

What other volunteer opportunities are available at the conference?

Volunteers help make our conference a success. Volunteers are needed for the hospitality table, the membership table, the registration area, and the PSLA Store (located in the exhibit hall). To volunteer, please check the appropriate box on your registration form when you register for the conference.