Attestation For Librarians: New Standards and International Practices

Abstract

The process of attestation for library staff has recently been introduced in Armenia following amendments to the national law on libraries and librarianship. According to these changes, all librarians are now required to undergo attestation through a training program approved by the competent governmental authority. This is the first time in Armenian history that such a requirement has been imposed on library employees.
The article is about the introduction of a new attestation (certification) system for library staff in Armenia, which marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to professional standards in the field of librarianship. It provides historical background on attestation in Armenia (such as in public service and education), explains what attestation means, and examines international models of library staff attestation-specifically those in Russia, the United States, and European Council countries.
The goal of the article is to inform readers about the new legal requirement for attestation of Armenian library staff, explain what attestation entails, why it matters, and what questions it raises, compare Armenia’s new approach with international practices in order to offer perspective, guidance, and potential benchmarks, prepare the professional library community in Armenia for this major change by promoting awareness and understanding of how attestation supports professional development, standardization, and quality assurance in librarianship.
In essence, the article seeks to contextualize and clarify a new policy in Armenia by connecting it to global trends, encouraging thoughtful implementation, and addressing the concerns that naturally arise from such a foundational change.