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Committee passes bill allowing local library boards to hire directors without ALA‑accredited master’s degree
Summary
Senate bill presented by Sen. Dan Sullivan would give local library boards discretion to hire an experienced director without the American Library Association (ALA)–approved master’s degree currently required by Arkansas law; committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Senator Dan Sullivan, R-District 20, told the committee that current state law requires library directors to hold a master’s-level program approved by the American Library Association (ALA) and that no Arkansas college programs are ALA-approved. “There are no approved programs in the state of Arkansas,” Sullivan said, and described the ALA as a trade association rather than a government body.
The bill would allow library boards to hire a director based on experience without the ALA-approved degree. Sullivan said similar waivers or substitutions for experience exist in other parts of education and licensing.
There was no public testimony recorded on the item. Sullivan closed his presentation and asked for a favorable vote; the committee moved to pass the bill and approved it by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.
