Program Details

The Digital Teacher Librarian certificate at the University of Colorado Denver prepares educators and library professionals to design, lead, and sustain contemporary school library and media programs that inspire reading, inquiry, and digital literacy. Coursework integrates digital literacy, media literacy, information literacy, and school library leadership, grounded in research-based practice and equity-centered design.

CU Denver’s Digital Teacher Librarian certificate prepares educators who are not endorsed as a certified school librarian with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish an inclusive learning community that ensures students have the ability to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information. This certificate is aligned with the Colorado State Library's competencies for highly effective school library programs. 

You will be prepared to:

• Plan an effective library program
• Collaborate with colleagues, community partners, and students to design and implement standards'aligned learning experiences that prepare young learners to thrive in school and beyond
• Assess students’ abilities to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information in a variety of media, and
• Manage a diverse collection of materials in the library to promote both literacy and a love for learning, and
• Become a professional who creates inviting, inclusive, and flexible library spaces that accommodate the varying needs of learners and the school-wide community.

Faculty

Faculty at CU Denver match your passion for professional success in libraries. Engaged in school library work at the local, state, national, and international levels, these professionals bring with them a wide breadth of experience.

Why CU Denver

CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is recognized for preparing school library leaders and is ranked among top graduate education schools. The university offers flexible, fully online programs committed to literacy, inclusion, and global learning.

Who Should Apply

This graduate certificate is designed for educators and library professionals who want to take the next step in their careers by leading school library and media programs that inspire reading, inquiry, and digital literacy. Applicants include classroom teachers seeking expanded instructional and leadership roles and teacher-librarians. While coursework aligns with Colorado Department of Education expectations for school library endorsement, the program is fully online and open to learners nationwide and globally. Because the program is delivered entirely online, participants join the program from across Colorado, the United States, and around the world.

Program Format

All coursework is delivered 100% online and asynchronously, allowing working professionals to engage in flexible, high-impact learning with faculty experts in literacy education, digital learning, and school library leadership.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop the skills to lead and advocate for school library programs; teach digital, media, and information literacy; design inclusive library spaces and collections; collaborate with classroom teachers; and support inquiry-based learning and ethical information use across diverse learning communities.

Career Pathways

Graduates pursue roles as digital teacher librarians, library media specialists, instructional technology specialists, district-level library or literacy leaders, and international school librarians across public, private, charter, rural, urban, and international school settings.