From CPE to CPD for Filipino Librarians 2017

Before I write about the updates regarding the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Filipino Librarians, here are blog articles and some content on the topic which I posted in the blog dating as far back as 2007.

Dr. Corazon Nera, who was the chair of the Board for Librarians in 2007 presented updates on the resurgence of the CPE and the Professional Standards for Librarians during the PLAI Southern Tagalog Region Librarians' Council. If my memory serves me right, this was the time when the BFL finished working on a set of guidelines for the practice of librarianship and revisiting the CPE of several years back. Apparently, with the organization of regional councils of librarians, standards and CPE programs for Filipino librarians would have a platform of implementation. Two years after, the CPE Program for Librarians Articles 1-3 date of posting April 26, 2009  was presented by Mrs. Elizabeth Peralejo who was then a member of the Board for Librarians, during the PATLS seminar.

The BFL was indeed hard at work, and still is, to fully interpret and implement Republic Act 9264. However, there is much talk about challenges in fulfilling and meeting CPE requirements. In 2010, I wrote about complains and worries of librarians on the "earning" of CPE units. I gave my two cents as an ending to the post.

The concerns on meeting units and points, asking for permission and seeking for supervisors, looking for funds to finance one's CPD activities are all real!

Ms. Angelic Bautista, who was a school librarian back in 2011 asked me about professional activities for school librarians. I asked a friend, Darrel Marco, who was a school librarian in De La Salle Zobel gave his response. He enumerated different ways in which school librarians can update their knowledge and upgrade their skills. I gave additional tips and lent insights too. 

Three years ago, the BFL conducted consultation meetings with leaders and practitioners in the profession. Here is a document on the consultation on new guidelines on the CPD for librarians. 

If I started blogging about the CPE of Filipino Librarians, (which is now called CPD see how it changed from education to development), back in 2007 that would be ten years to its evolution into a law,

More of that on my next post.  

Consultative Meeting on New Guidelines of CPD for Librarians

This assembly of professional organizations of librarians and the different sector they represent in Philippine Librarianship will happen tomorrow. My posting is late, but this would mean that the Board for Librarians (BFL) is busy and involved. Maybe to some, this is not what they're expecting from the BFL to do. Then again, it's a realistic initiative that will push for the profession to level up. 

Republic of the Philippines

Professional Regulation Commission

Manila

10 February 2014

TO: POTENTIAL CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) PROVIDERS; THE PRESIDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINE LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION (APO) AND OTHER LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES; DEANS AND HEADS OF LIBRARY SCHOOLS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

FROM: THE BFL-CPD COUNCIL (HON. LOURDES T. DAVID, JOHANN FREDRICK CABBAB, AND EIMEE, RHEA LAGRAMA)

The Board for Librarians - Continuing Professional Development Council (CPDC) invites you to a Consultative Meeting on the New Guidelines on Continuing Professional Development of Librarians on 27 February 2014, 1:00pm onwards, at the 4^th Floor, UP College of Law Library, Malcolm Hall, Osmena Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City.  

The CPD Council will present new CPD guidelines on how potential CPD providers can accredited; how librarians can gain credit for self-directed learning and the rationale for the need for continuing professional education for librarians and other professionals. 

This meeting will enable you to understand the opportunities and challenges that our profession is currently facing. The venue is good for 50 persons only so please contact me at lourdesavelino20@gmail.com or at 09209616865 for reservation. Attendance to the consultative meeting is free of charge.

The council is looking forward to your presence. 

Thank you.

Filipino Librarian: Cora Nera, PAARL Awardee

Every now and then, I blog about Filipino Librarians who I meet in my journeys (literal and figurative). This time, I'm posting about one of the more popular and esteemed Filipino librarians in the country today -- Madame Cora Nera of the Board for Librarians (BFL).

Madame Cora Nera is conferred by the PAARL The Lifetime Achievement Award and naming her The 2010 Woman Achiever. Of course, her achievements are numerous. Her continued work in uplifting the profession to higher levels of excellence is evident in all corners and areas of library and information science locally and abroad. There is one thing I have to say about one of her achievements and this has nothing to do with libraries and librarians.

For one, I happen to know Madame Nera's son, Jack. He's a spitting image of his mother. He's one of those simple guys in the office who quietly goes about his work but whose insights and perspectives are like windows and doors to new worlds. Best of all, he writes and loves to read. Now that is what I call an achievement.

Congratulations to Madame Cora Nera for her achievements as librarian, mother and woman! Mabuhay!

Source of photo: http://plaistrlc.blogspot.com/2010/02/prof-nera-2010-woman-achiever.html

Continuing Professional Education for Librarians

Another controversial topic permeating in local circles of library organizations and institutions since last year was the revival of the Continuing Professional Education program for registered/licensed librarians. The Board for Librarians (BFL) started its dissemination last year in seminars, conferences and fora organized by different library organizations, alumni associations and professional librarians group. It was done with the best of intentions, yet the reaction was tepid, if not.

A licensed librarian must earn twenty (20) CPE points a year so that, on the third year of license renewal he or she qualifies for the sixty (60) CPE points. The BFL came up with a list on where to get these points and how. For many, the list's contents are impossible to achieve. One needs time, money and the support of the immediate supervisor or administration to realize 20 points annually.

I only have to two things to say about this.

First -- if there is a will, there is a way. Time can be managed. As for the money, God provides. There's RA 9246 for the non-believers.

Second -- it takes a village to raise a child. Consider the CPE as a child. The BFL "maybe" its parent, but WE all need to do our part to help it "grow".

Yes, I'd rather be an optimistic fool than a zombie.