New York State Library

School Library System Coordinator/Director Appointment Procedures

Overview

Education requirements for the School Library System (SLS) coordinator/director State-aided position and the position functions are included in the Regulations of the Commissioner 90.18. Educational agencies (BOCES/Big 5 Cities) must obtain State Education Department approval from the New York State Library before the educational agency's Board of Education formally appoints a candidate to the School Library System coordinator/director position. This approval is required in order to assure that all regulatory requirements are met prior to the formal appointment.

Appointment Procedures

Per Commissioner's Regulation 90.18, the coordinator/director of a School Library System shall hold a school library media specialist certificate with a minimum of three years of experience and be eligible to possess either a School Building Leader (SBL), School District Leader (SDL), or School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS) educational leadership certificate within three years from appointment date. The educational agency should forward the following items to the New York State Library for review and approval prior to appointment of the SLS coordinator/director:

  1. Copy of the candidate's New York State library media specialist certificate, and/or other certifications
  2. Copy of the candidate's résumé

Once written approval from the New York State Library is received, the candidate’s name may be forwarded to the agency’s Board of Education for appointment. Once the candidate is appointed to the school library system coordinator/director position, the educational agency files a copy of the agency’s Board minutes pertaining to the appointment or a certified statement from the clerk of the BOCES/Big 5 Cities Board of Education with the New York State Library.

All materials should be sent to:

Mary Beth Farr, SLS Program Manager
Division of Library Development
New York State Library
Room 10B41 CEC
Albany, NY 12230

New System Directors are expected to attend a virtual New York State Library Orientation for Library System Leaders after official appointment and within a few months of their start date. View information about upcoming orientations.

Last Updated: January 9, 2024