Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The School Library Media Specialist (SLMS) endorsement (endorsement code 2855) authorizes the holder to serve as a school library media specialist in preschool through grade 12. The functions include delivery of instruction in information literacy skills; the development and coordination of school library media programs and resources; and the delivery of instruction in the evaluation, selection, organization, distribution, creation, and utilization of school library media. Media are defined as all print, non-print, and electronic resources, including the technologies needed for their use.

The New Jersey Department of Education also provides requirements as set forth in the School Library Media Specialist and Associate School Library Media Specialist Residency Agreement (N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-14.14).

Please note that the Associate School Library Media Specialist (ASLMS) Certificate will no longer be issued after September 1, 2027.

Freedom to Read Act

The Freedom to Read Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:34A-1 et seq.) was adopted into law in December 2024 to protect New Jerseyans’ free access to library materials. This includes the right of students in grades K through 12 to obtain developmentally-appropriate materials, curated by professionally-trained school library media specialists, from their school libraries.

The law requires that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) provide standards for curation of library materials, establish criteria for the removal of existing school library material, and provide protection against attempts to censor school library material.

Please see the Freedom to Read Act webpage for model policies and other information.

Information Literacy Student Learning Standards

Legislation requiring the development and instruction of information literacy standards (N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-4.4 et seq.) in all content areas in grades K-12 was adopted in January 2023. The law requires that, whenever possible, the school library media specialist is included in the development of curriculum that concerns information literacy.

Information literacy performance expectations will be included in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills (NJSLS-CLKS). The NJSLS-CLKS are currently being revised and will be available upon adoption by the State Board of Education.

Curriculum and instruction should “include the integration of information literacy, consistent with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and delivered in partnership by school library media specialists and classroom educators…” (N.J.S.A. 6A:8-6.1(c)).

Functions of and endorsement eligibility requirements for school library media specialists are detailed in N.J.S.A. 6A:9B-14.14. Language regarding the associate school library media specialist endorsement, which will no longer be issued after September 1, 2027, is detailed in N.J.S.A 6A:9B-14.15.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 6A:13-2.1, “all school districts shall provide library-media services that are connected to classroom studies in each school building… [and] each school district shall provide these library-media services under the direction of a certified school library media specialist."