The Professionalization of
Filipino Librarians
Corazon M. Nera
Director 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
The following qualifications should be obtained on or
before December 5, 1990:
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
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
Form of certificate
•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
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 Librarian
Director
Head Librarian
2. University Librarian
College Librarian
Unit Librarian
3. Asst. Chief Librarian
Deputy Director
Asst. Head Librarian
4. Librarian V
Librarian IV
Librarian III
Librarian II
Librarian 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