LSSC Candidate Program Application Thank you for your interest in LSSC Candidacy! Follow the six-step tutorial below to become an LSSC Candidate. After completing this form, you will use the username and password that you created to login to the Candidate Achievement Record (CAR), which is described below.
1. Personal Information
2. Payment Information
Paying by credit card? Enter your credit card information in the appropriate blanks as you apply. Paying by check, or splitting the cost with your employer using different types of payment or different credit cards? On the LSSC application form, there are instructions of what to do when you want to pay by check. Follow those instructions and then call LiveText (1-866-548-3839) to complete payment. If you are splitting payment, just mention that information to the LiveText representative, and s/he will take your library’s credit card number. If further questions arise regarding payment, contact LiveText at 1-866-LiveText (1-866-548-3839) or [email protected]
3. Create a Username and Password
Choose a username and password. PLEASE NOTE: After completing the Candidate Application, you will use this username and password to access your Candidate Achievement Record (CAR).
4. Questionnaire
The questions below DO NOT impact your LSSC Program eligibility. However, completing these questions will help us as we continue to develop the program. Thank you for taking the time to complete these questions.
5. Information Summary
6. Registration Completed
Candidate Achievement Record (CAR) What is a Candidate Achievement Record (CAR)? Your Candidate Achievement Record (CAR) is your personal work area that you will use to store documents; attach the evidence that you have successfully completed an approved course; or upload evidence you will use to create a portfolio. Each candidate will have his/her own CAR. No one else will be able to see your CAR until you decide to share it with someone else. To receive the LSSC, all necessary documents (Certificates of Course Completion, portfolios, etc.) must be submitted through your CAR. Follow the eight steps below to create your CAR and begin work toward your LSSC!
1. Go to livetext.com and enter your username and password into those respective fields. Select Login. *Note: Supported Internet Browsers:
• FireFox, version 1.0 or greater (preferred browser) • Internet Explorer, version 6.0 or greater • Safari, version 2.0 or greater (some formatting capabilities are limited)
2. Click the Documents tab at the top of the screen.
This will take you to the My Work tab.
3. Select New.
4. In the Folder drop-down menu, select “LSSC Program.”
5. In the Template drop-down menu you will see a list of all LSSC competency sets, each preceded by the prompt “LastNameFirstName.” Select the first competency set, “LastNameFirstName ACCESS SERVICES COMPETENCY SET.”
6. In the Title field, name your Access competency set according to the following convention: LastNameFirstName Access Services Compentency Set (i.e., DoeJane Access Services Compentency Set). Type the name of the competency set exactly as it appears in the Template drop-down menu (i.e., Access Services Compentency Set). Select Save as New Document. This will open your CAR for Access Services Compentency Set.
7. Congratulations! You have created your CAR for Access Services Compentency Set. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for all competency sets, even for electives you do not think you will choose to complete (you might change your mind later about the competency sets you want to achieve). Once you have created a CAR for each competency set, you will never need to repeat these steps.
On the left side of your CAR is the Table of Contentts, which helps you navigate your CAR for each competency by listing the CAR’s pages. Under the Table of Contents are listed the following: • LSSC Getting Started ToolKit • LSSC Approval Letter • Taking LSSC Approved Courses • Preparing a Portfolio • [Competency Set] To select a page listed in the Table of Contents, click on the title of that page. PAUSE To review a page’s sections, scroll down the page. PAUSE
You may also browse a page’s sections through the Table of Contents: click on the arrow to the right of the title of the page you wish to view.Each of the competency sets will be organized in the following way:
• a short description of the competency set • competencies and portfolio development suggestions • a personal learning statement
Submitting Certificates of Course Completion (CCC) LSSC approves courses in the competency sets from providers of library education. You may choose to complete one of these courses, or complete a portfolio for a competency set. When you pass an approved course, you will receive from your provider an electronic copy of a Certificate of Course Completion (CCC). Follow the instructions below to upload it to your CAR.
1. Under the Table of Contents in the desired competency set, select “Taking LSSC Approved Courses.”
2. Click on the Edit button, located to the right of each section in the page. You will be
taken to the Section Editor.
3. Click on the File Attachment tab.
4. Click on the Upload New File… button.
5. Click the Browse…button.
6. Browse your computer and select the appropriate CCC. Once you select the CCC file, click on the file name or click Open. In either case, the file will be uploaded to your CAR.
7. Click Save & Finish. This will take you back to the competency set page.
If you have successfully attached the CCC, there will be an Attachments area at the bottom of the section, and you will be able to see your uploaded CCC.
1. At the top of the competency set page, click on the Send for Review button. This will open the Search for Reviewer(s) window.
2. In the box at the bottom of the window, type in “LSSCP_Admin.” Select LSSCP Certification Administration.
3. Click on the Submit for Review button.
The window will confirm that “you have successfully submitted this document to 1 user.”
Developing Your Portfolio A portfolio is a way for you to demonstrate that you have achieved each individual competency in a competency set through your experience or through new learning such as an unapproved course or your own self-directed study. Remember, you may choose to complete competency sets using all approved courses, all portfolios, or a combination of both. (If you complete an approved course, view the instructions above for submitting a Certificate of Course Completion.)
1. The best information on developing a portfolio may be found on the LSSC web site. Go to the Candidates page on the left table of contents and select the Getting Started ToolKit. The URL for the ToolKit is http://ala-apa.org/lssc/for-candidates/getting-started-toolkit/. There is an extensive section in the ToolKit on developing a portfolio.
2. Review the competencies in any competency set in which you are interested in developing a portfolio. Each competency set page features several sections that will help you create your portfolio:
A. Competency Set Overview – describes the nature and significance of the competency
set. Attached to the Overview are two PDFs: the competency set itself, and Portfolio Development Suggestions for that competency set.
B. Competencies – a description of each competency in a set. Each competency is followed by two to four Portfolio Development Suggestions (PDS). You can use the PDS if you do not have evidence of your experience in some of the competencies. Even though there are multiple PDS under each competency, you need only do one of them in each competency. You will be uploading at least one document (file) as evidence of your proficiency, knowledge, and experience for each competency in a set.
C. Personal Learning Statement – instructions on describing how the chosen competency set 1) relates to your work and 2) summarizes your new learning and experiences. You do not have to write a Personal Learning Statement if you pass an approved course.
Uploading Portfolio Documents To upload portfolio documents to a competency section, click the Edit button that corresponds with the desired section. The Edit button is located to the right of each section. Follow the directions below to add an attachment:
1. Under the Table of Contents in the desired competency set, select the page with the name of the competency set.
2. Under the desired competency set, scroll down to the competency section (Competency 1, 2, 3, etc.) of your choosing. You will be uploading information for every competency in a competency set. Follow this process for all the documents you will upload.
3. Click on the Edit button, which is located to the right of each section in the page. You will be taken to the Section Editor.
4. If you are using a PDS, highlight your chosen PDS so that your portfolio evaluator will
know which PDS you are attempting to complete. If you choose to use your own documentation instead of a PDS, do not highlight any PDS; instead, briefly describe your work and the documents you are attaching.
5. Click on the File Attachment(s) tab.
6. Click on the Upload New File… button.
7. Click the Browse…button.
8. Browse your computer and select the file you wish to upload. Once you select a file, click on the file name or click Open. In either case, the file will be uploaded to your CAR.
9. Click Save & Finish. This will take you back to the competency set page. Scroll down to the competency section to confirm that you have successfully attached your documents.
CAUTION: Do not type text in the box, or erase the existing text. All portfolio work should be attached as a document, not written in the competency section.
Submitting the Completed Portfolio 1. Once you have uploaded documents (files) for all competencies in a set and completed a
Personal Learning Statement, click Send for Review.
2. In the box at the bottom of the window, type in “LSSCP_Admin.” Select LSSCP Certification Administration.
3. Click on the Submit for Review button.
The window will confirm that “you have successfully sent this document to 1 user.”
The goal is to review all portfolios within one month. However, the actual time will depend upon the number of portfolios submitted for review. Once your portfolio has been reviewed, staff from the LSSC Program office will contact you regarding the status of your portfolio review. The first time you submit your portfolio there are two possible outcomes: 1) your portfolio will be approved, meaning no further work is needed; or 2) you will be asked to provide additional evidence (files) for particular competencies in your portfolio. If you are asked to provide additional evidence (files) for particular competencies, and you resubmit, there are two possible outcomes: 1) your portfolio will be approved, meaning no further work is needed; or 2) evaluators may recommend that you complete a course or do more independent learning before you submit another portfolio. When your portfolio is approved, LSSC staff will send you a Certificate of Portfolio Completion (CPC) that verifies your completion of that competency set. Regardless of whether your portfolio is approved, you will be able to read your evaluators’ comments; LSSC staff will email your evaluators’ comments to you.
Additional Resources LiveText Support Team If further questions arise regarding the application, contact LiveText at: Phone: 1-866-LiveText (1-866-548-3839) Email: [email protected] Tech Support Hours Monday to Thursday 7:00am - 9:00pm (CT) Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm (CT) Sunday 2:00pm - 7:00pm (CT) Extended Hours during End-of-Term Exams Monday to Thursday 7:00am - 9:00pm (CT) Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm (CT) Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm - 9:00pm (CT)
