Library Technical Assistant

Whether your career goal is to get a beginning support staff position in a library, to obtain state or national librarian certification, or use the LTA Associate Degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's and a master's degree in library and information science, the Library Technical Assistant program can move you towards your goal. The program provides career opportunities by giving you new job skills or improving the ones you already possess.

The Library Technical Assistant program will give you an understanding of the history of libraries and the purpose, functions, and roles of the different types of libraries. It will provide training in basic library technical services including ordering, processing, and copy-cataloging of the variety of types and forms of materials found in libraries; library public support services including circulation, interlibrary loan, and basic reference, and computer operations as they relate to library functions.

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WHY CHOOSE THE LIBRARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM?
Although many people think library work would be a good career because they "like to read", there is little time for reading on the job! But if you like interacting with people (customers) in a dynamic way to deliver excellence in customer service, the Library Technical Assistant program may be a good fit for you. Serving the information needs of customers is the mission of libraries. You may also choose to work behind the scenes in the technical processing areas of the library where there is no contact with the library's customers. Whether you are working with customers or working behind the scenes, library work involves much attention to accuracy and detail. Library staff must also enjoy working with computers and other technologies and will need some depth of skill and understanding in this area. And libraries are always looking for innovators and people who are good at adapting to a changing environment.

SAMPLE CAREERS IN THIS FIELD
Library Technical Assistant, Library Technician, Library Assistant, Library Aide, School Media Center Aide, Circulation Assistant, Reference Assistant, Technical Services Assistant, Audio Visual Assistant

DEGREES AVAILABLE
Associate of Science via Ivy Tech Online. NOTE: The number of credits required for a degree or certification is based on students who are program-ready and does not include non-academic skills courses. Availability of degrees varies by campus. Contact your campus of interest below for more information.

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN LIBRARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANT VIA IVY TECH ONLINE
(Minimum of 60 credit hours)

The Associate of Science degree program for Library Technical Assistant is offered via Ivy Tech Online, a completely online option. This virtual option provides students with the same content and knowledge as our traditional program, but is delivered entirely through our distance education delivery system. The Associate of Science degree in Library Technical Assistant transfers to several Indiana public institutions.

To find out information about your transfer options to public and private universities, contact your academic advisor or the transfer office of your local Ivy Tech. You are also encouraged to contact the institution and consult the current catalog and web page of the institution to which you wish to transfer.

Note: While the general education course requirements can be taken online or face to face, the library core courses (LIBR) are available only online.

Ivy Tech Community College offers an Associate of Science in Library Technical Assistant.  The courses required for the degree are listed on the previous LTA web page. The degree consists of 31 credit hours in general education courses and 29 credit hours in technical courses. Full curriculum.

You may take just selected courses; however, the College recommends completing the full degree. This effort gives you the best and fullest education and allows you to continue your education at the next higher level. Some students like to take a course or two to build confidence before they declare that they are "degree-seeking", but most decide that is the best route to go and work to complete the full degree.

No, all of the LTA classes are available as online only classes and are available from anywhere in the state and beyond. You may opt to take some of the general education courses on campus, but they are also available online. Assignments in the courses will require you to visit libraries now and then, and the final practicum course requires 144 hours of work in a library.

No. You do not need a computer at home, but you DO need access to a computer and the Internet from somewhere. It will make your life easier if you have it at home, but you can use a computer at your office, your library, or even at a friend's home. It will require more planning on your part to get to that machine regularly throughout the semester, but it can be done.

Taking a course online does not mean you will do "everything" online. Ivy Tech online courses are offered through our course management system, Blackboard. You will log on to that system and access information about your course there. You will find information on your instructor, announcements for the class, a course calendar, assignments, lectures, discussion boards, a messaging/email system, quizzes, tests, and more. You will have a weekly schedule to follow with due dates for assignments and tests. Usually you will print off your assignments each week, do the readings and assignments offline, check two or three times a week for updates and emails, and then email or upload your completed work by the due date. You will also go online each week for a few minutes to participate in discussion boards or occasional live chats. There is great flexibility in when you do your work as long as you meet the due dates! Only for the occasional live chats will you have to be online at a specific time.

1. I enjoy learning independently, but am comfortable asking an instructor for help if I don't understand something.
2. I am organized and maintain a schedule of all the things I need to get done. I don't generally need to be reminded to complete things on time or even a little early.
3.  I am comfortable using a computer and the Internet to do things like viewing a web page, sending and reading email, typing papers in a word processing program, and finding information on the Internet.
4. I learn well from reading and reflecting on what I have read. I don't need to listen to a lecture to help me understand course content.
5. I have at least six hours to devote to each course I am taking and can make more time if needed.

Computer Requirements:

If you are taking a course which uses Blackboard ?�� our distance education system ?�� you will need to ensure that you have access to a computer with all of the following:

• 1GHz or faster CPU
• 256 MB or more of RAM
• 56K dial-up connection (DSL or Cable Broadband strongly suggested)
• Windows XP (Mac OS X and Linux/Unix OS are suitable for most, but not all, online course applications
• CD-ROM drive (DVD drive may be required for some course content
• Sound card and speakers/headphones may be required for some course content
• Video card and monitor capable of displaying at least 16 bit color (thousands of colors)
• Current Web Browser (Internet Explorer or FireFox suggested)
• Word Processing software (Microsoft Word required for some online course applications)

Some courses may require additional hardware or software from that listed above.

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Yes. You will have to fill out an application to the College and can do so by clicking here. (There is no fee.)  Click here to find the campus nearest you.  That is the campus to which you should apply.

Use the information on this page under "Ivy Tech Online Classes" to calculate your tuition cost.  Most courses are 3 credit hours.

Yes, if you take 6 credits or more. Visit the Financial Aid pages on the site for more information.

New/first-time students must go to a local Ivy Tech campus to register. Contact the LTA Advisor at the campus nearest to you, using the locations list above.

The LTA courses are offered as listed below. Most of the general education requirements are offered each semester.

Yes. The full degree with all required courses transfers to a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) at IUPUI. Other four year schools may also transfer most or all of the degree. After transferring the courses, you will likely be in "junior" status with only two more years of course work to complete towards a bachelor's degree.

No, none of the Ivy Tech courses will count for credit in a Masters program in Library Science; however, the IUPUI School of Library and Information Science accepts students who have transferred from the LTA program into a Bachelor's program such as the Bachelor of General Studies described in the transfer question above, providing the student's grades meet the school's standard. In this way, the LTA program can act as a career ladder to higher level accomplishments.

The Indiana State Library accepts the following courses for level 4:  LIBR 102 (Reference), LIBR 201 (Cataloging), LIBR 203 (Services for Children), LIBR 207 (Management & Supervision in Public Libraries), and LIBR 208 (Management & Development of Library Collections).   The following courses are accepted for  level 5:  LIBR 102 (Reference), LIBR 207 (Management & Supervision in Public Libraries), and LIBR 208 (Management & Development of Library Collections).     All LIBR courses are accepted for certificate level 6 and for the library continuing education unit requirements.

LEU's: All library courses in the LTA curriculum are accepted towards the Library Education Units (LEU's) required by the Indiana State Library plan.

Can I use the Ivy Tech LTA courses for the American Library Association/Allied Professional Association?��s Library Support Staff Certification program (LSSC)?

Yes.

A graduate of the Ivy Tech LTA degree program will be automatically accepted into the program upon payment of the entry fee.  The certification requirements also include having worked or volunteered in  one year or 1,820 hours.  LTA graduates without the required work experience receives a ?��provisional?�� status certification until the required hours are completed .  This must be done within four years and can include a combination of work and volunteer hours.

 The following courses can be used for the individual LSSC competencies:

Required Competencies:

• Foundations:  LIBR 101
• Communications & Teamwork:  LIBR 101
• Technology: LIBR 105

Electives:

• Access Services: LIBR 103
• Cataloging & Classification: LIBR 201
• Collections: LIBR 208
• Reference: LIBR 102
• Supervision & Management: LIBR 102
• Youth Services: LIBR 203

Many of the LTA students are already working in a library. There are also students who have not yet worked in a library. If you are a student new to libraries, the "experienced" library workers will enrich your course experience and broaden your education.

Anyone who likes working with people, is good at customer service, is good at organization and details and likes to work with computers and new technologies, and who has a natural curiosity and desire to seek out information and answers to questions will find library courses and library work rewarding and will likely be good at it!.

Both vary depending on the locale. While growth in this field is not strong, openings do occur. You should check with the public, academic, school, and special libraries in your area for the current openings. Salaries start around $10 to $12 per hour and can go as high as $18. Again check with local libraries for local details.