The Professionalization of Filipino Librarians

Corazon M. NeraDirector of Libraries, Lyceum of the Philippines

Member, Board For Librarians, PRC

Introduction

• February 19, 2004 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law RA No. 9246 an Act Modernizing The Practice of Librarianship in the Philippines thereby repealing RA No. 6966, the Philippine Librarianship Act of 1990.

• The new law, otherwise known as “The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003” was touted to re-engineer and re-tool the librarian profession making it competitive and abreast with technology and responsive to the ever changing demands of information users.

Salient Points of RA No. 9246

a) National examination for licensure that is honest, effective and credible

b) Strict supervision, control and regulation of practice of librarianship

c) Integration of librarians under one national organization

d) Continuous development of professional competence of librarians

e) Qualifications of librarians in all government libraries, and

f) Formulation of policies and standards for Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) Program.

Qualifying for Librarianship Practice

Prerequisite to practice

• Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians and the Professional Regulation Commission

• Certificate of Registration issued by the Board without examination after he or she is declared by the Board exempt from examination in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Librarianship Act.

Foreign Librarian shall be admitted for licensure examination provided the following conditions are met:

1) If the country permits Filipino librarians to practice librarianship on an equal basis

2) The requirements for Certificate of Registration are substantially the same

3) The law grants Filipino librarians the same privileges

Persons Exempted from Examination

1) A practicing librarian with a bachelor’s degree and have passed the librarian or supervising librarian examination

2) A practicing librarian of 5 years who completed any bachelor’s degree with 18 units in library science and a first grade eligible or its equivalent

The following qualifications should be obtained on or before December 5, 1990:

Persons exempt..(Cont.)

3. A practicing librarian with a master’s degree in library science or library and information science and possesses a first grade eligibility or its equivalent

4. A practicing librarian of 7 years with a bachelor’s degree and 18 units in library science.

Those who qualify shall be given up to March 16, 2007 to apply for exemption.

Documents required for exemption from the licensure examination:

A. Certificate of a librarian/supervising librarian eligibility duly authenticated by the Civil Service Commission, when applicable;

B. Diploma and transcript of records with special order number and date of graduation or certified photocopy by the school authority;

C. Service records indicating the position title with the duties for the position duly certified by the personnel officer and notarized;

D. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Ombudsman clearances for government-employed applicants, or NBI clearance for privately-employed applicants.

Places of Examination

• Manila or Cebu or Davao

• Other places decided by the Board for Librarians and approved by the Professional Regulation Commission

Dates of Examination

• November 28 and 29, 2006

Scope of Examination

Subjects % Weights in the Exam

1. Selection and acquisition of multimedia sources of information.

15%

2. Cataloging and classification 20%

3. Indexing and abstracting 15%

4. Reference, bibliography and information services

20%

5. Organization, management and development of library and information services including laws, trends and practices affecting the profession

20%

6. Information technology 10%

100%

Application Requirements

1. An examination record card;

2. Two copies of the applicant’s recent 2 x 2 pictures

3. Birth certificate and marriage certificate (if married)

4. Diploma and transcript of records with date of graduation

5. A certificate of naturalization, if necessary; and

6. Three certificates of good moral character

Qualifications of Applicant

A. He or she is a citizen of the Philippines or a citizen or subject of a country which permits Filipino librarians to practice and the requirements for the registration in the said country are the same;

B. He or she is in good health and is of good moral character;

C. He or she is a graduate of bachelor’s degree or a holder of a Master’s degree in library and information science (MLS)

Holders of the following degrees may be allowed to take the licensure examination until February 2009:

A. Bachelor of science in education or elementary education; specialization in library science at least 18 units;

B. Master of arts in library science or library and information science; or

C. Any masteral degree with concentration in library science or at least 18 units.

Ratings and reexamination

•A general average rating of at least 75% with a rating of not below 50% in any subject.

•An average rating of 75% or higher but gets rating below 50% in any given subject must take the examination again.

•There is no limit in reexamination

Issuance of certificate

•Certificates of registration are issued by the Board for Librarians to applicants who:

1. passed the librarian licensure examination

2. paid the prescribed fees, and

3. included in the Roster of Philippine Librarians.

Renewal of license

•Renew license every three years

•Bears the full name of the registrant, a serial number, the signatures of all the members of the Board and the Chairperson of the PRC, stamped with the official seals of the Board and the Commission

Form of certificate

Professional identification card

•Bears the name and signature of the registrant, registration number, date of issuance, expiry date, duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission.

The Librarian’s professional oath

•Every successful examinee must take a professional oath.

Membership to a national organization of librarians

•Every registered and licensed librarian shall automatically become a member of the integrated and accredited professional organization (APO) which is the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI)

PLAI membership oath

•New professionals are required to take oath as new members of PLAI

The Practice of Librarianship

Librarian Defined - a librarian is a “bona fide holder of a certificate of registration and professional identification card issued by the Professional Regulation Commission in accordance with the Philippine Librarianship Act.

Statistics of registered librarians

• 4,779 registered librarians

•3004 were licensed through examination

•1,775 were recognized through exemption

Classification of librarians in general

1. Academic librarians

2. School librarians

3. Public librarians

4. Special librarians

According to types of service :

1. Reference librarian 5. Periodicals librarian

2. Filipiniana librarian 6. Electronic librarian

3. Readers services librarian 7. Technical services librarian

4. Media librarian 8. Collection development librarian

According to types of positions held:

1. Chief LibrarianDirectorHead Librarian

2. University LibrarianCollege LibrarianUnit Librarian

3. Asst. Chief LibrarianDeputy DirectorAsst. Head Librarian

4. Librarian VLibrarian IVLibrarian IIILibrarian IILibrarian I

Scope of practice of librarianship

1. Selection and acquisition of sources of information

2. Cataloging and classification of sources of information

3. Development of computer-assisted information systems

4. Establishment of library system and procedures

5. Teaching, lecturing and reviewing of library science

6. Services involving technical knowledge/expertise

Scope of practice of librarianship (Cont.)

7. Preparation, evaluation or appraisal of program plans

8. Provision of consultancy services

9. Organization, conservation, preservation of historical, cultural documents and intellectual properties

10. Managing the overall operations of the library/information center

11. Accreditation service to assess the operation to improve library service.

Penalty for illegal practice of librarianship

•A fine of not less than P30,000.00 (US$588) nor more than P100,0000.00 (US$1,960), or imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than three years if found :

1. Practicing without certificate of registration

2. Presents or uses other certificate

3. Gives any false or forged evidence

4. Uses a revoked or suspended certificate

5. Assumes as registered without having been conferred such title

6. Advertises title description to convey the impression as registered librarian

Gains of the Filipino professional librarian

A. On the side of the state, society, clients and agencies

1. The state recognized librarianship as a profession.

2. A professional librarian is required for schools to operate, recognition of a program offering by DECS or CHED.

Gains of the Filipino Librarians (Cont.)

3. A professional librarian is required for the accreditation of program, for schools, colleges and universities

4. The professional librarian standing in the academe, corporate and public service was upgraded

5. The salary of professional librarian became competitive

6. The professional librarian has more opportunities to move upward

Gains of the Filipino Librarians (Cont.)

B. On the part of the professional librarian

1. Became confident in discharging duties with professionalism, integrity and competence

2. Became efficient in terms of volume of work, meeting deadlines and personal relations with superior, peers, colleagues and clientele

3. Work attitudes and self esteem positively changed

4. Opportunities for continuing education and exposure increased

5. Librarianship a prestigious calling

Challenges to the Filipino Professional Librarians

1. Sustain and safeguard the gains of a professional librarian

2. Willingness to accept professional and ethical principles

3. Follow these principles in the conduct of daily affairs

4. Maintain a higher standard of conduct that is called for by law

Specific Principles of Professional Conduct

1. Service to others

2. Integrity and objectivity

3. Professional competence

4. Solidarity and teamwork

5. Social and civic responsibility

6. Global competitiveness

7. Equality of all profession

Conclusions

•The Code of Good Governance for the Professions stipulates that all professionals should treat colleagues with respect

•No one group of professionals is superior or above other

•All professionals perform an equally important, yet distinct service to society.

•All professionals are equal and should treat other professionals with respect and fairness.

•The Filipino professional librarians included