Media and Information Literacy in the Philippines & #milclicks

Since December of 2016, I have been engaged in discussions to contribute a little bit of what I know and of what I practice in the school library on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) with the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) through Mr. Joseph Marmol Yap, being the lead librarian in the steering committee. AIJC has done a great job of drafting a position paper on Media and Information Literacy.

Yesterday, the draft was presented to a group of professionals representing agencies and institutions in the private and government sectors that have a stake on the development and monitoring of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) directions and programs. The process has been very consultative and the draft, as far as I can see and say, is well crafted. Hopefully, this position paper gets the traction necessary for lead agencies and supporting institutions to operationalize MIL in the country.

It is still too early for me to reveal the documents we read and perused, but, rest assured that we will share these developments in our sector and allied professionals. What I can share with you are my "takeaways" from the round table discussion.

Takeaway #1 - I am glad to see an initiative to develop policies and frameworks of MIL with recommended strategies of implementation on a national level. In 2002, when MIL was still IL, librarians have started learning what it is all about. It was an isolated venture. What I learned of IL over the years is that, it is effective when it is anchored in a concept, a subject area and/or a context that is real and authentic to the experience of learners.

Takeaway #2 - The consultation meetings and round table discussions were composed of representatives from key institutions and agencies in the government and private sectors. The implementation of MIL is a concerted effort and each agency and institution has a role to play. This effort is a long time coming but now is the better time to come together to redeem and salvage this country.

Takeaway #3 - When IL was still a new concept I was trying to wrap my head around it, I asked myself two questions: How can IL be implemented in the school library? What are the roles of libraries and librarians in the growth and development of IL? I see IL then as a way of thinking. It is made up of skills yes, and very cognitive at that. But such skills are best applied in daily life and in endeavors that prompt real and authentic learning.

Takeaway #4 - It's funny because, I still ask myself the same questions now that UNESCO merged media literacy with information literacy. It only goes to show that learning never ends.

Takeaway #5 - There is such a thing as #milclicks. This is a social media campaign of UNESCO for MIL awareness and development. Go check this out for yourself, because I sure will!

PLUS: The National Archives welcomes visitors!

These are but my initial thoughts, afterthoughts and reflections. There will be more to write about MIL in future posts. For now, I leave you with thie very popular African proverb. It takes a village to raise a child. The library is part of that village!

Insights From UP FLIPP's New Professionals Series Seminar & Unconfenrence

The young and the restless: UP Flippers, Mdme Salvacion Arlante & me.

I wish to congratulate the officers of UP FLIPP (Future Library and Information Professionals of the Philippines) for a successful LibSpeak 2016. I have had the pleasure of being invited several times over by this vibrant and young group of students. Every engagement is a different experience but laden with learning and insights as always.

This year, LibSpeak 2016 had two simultaneous events, a conference graced by three esteemed UP SLIS alumni and the "first" New Professionals series seminar and unconference. The former follows tradition. Something tried and tested. The later deviates a bit from the path more traveled. That was where I found myself yesterday.

It suited me just fine.

The New Professional Series is meant to foster mentoring, build networks and linkages, and open up opportunities for continuous professional growth and development. Sounds familiar? Same objectives that many professional organizations have. What made this different was the format in which the seminar and "unconference" was conducted. The methodology went like this: a resource speaker gave an input on the theme; two senior colleagues gave a response; a breakout session followed and in each group, a sub-topic that was related to the theme was talked about; next was the feedback and reporting; open forum; and then, a closure. For some, this may look like a small scale PLAI Congress or a format done by organizations off shore in conferences too. Not entirely new, but it was modified to fit a particular context.

What I really liked about the format and method employed by the Flippers was that, it surfaced many voices. Participants were given choices of groups to belong to. Voice and choice. Two important features of instruction that is centered on the learner. The design of the seminar and unconference also lent for discourse, though, this kind of conversation needed refinement of thought and thinking processes.

I think we need meaningful discourse to prepare us for more difficult and challenging cognitive tasks: reading, writing and research.

Joseph Marmol Yap was in top form. The young LIS professional I met in Bacolod in 2012 is not the same man I listened to yesterday. Congratulations to the UP Flippers for a job well done! I am sure your mentors are proud of you. Thank you once again for bringing me along in the journey of the path less traveled by. It was not a lonely walk, but an interesting one where conversing with the future LIS professionals gave me hope to keep on doing what I have considered as my life's mission. It was an inspiring morning!

Filipino Librarian: Joseph Marmol Yap

The blog's Filipino Librarian for February is none other than, Mr. Joseph Marmol Yap. He graduated with a BLIS (Bachelor of Library and Information Science) in UP Diliman in 2006 and completed his MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) in 2010.

In this interview, Joseph shares that LIS was a second choice. He has no regrets since the profession has given him so many learning opportunities. He has received study and travel grants for conferences and educational scholarships abroad. His recent assignment offers new challenges as he mans the Makati Extension Campus Library (MBA/JD program). His designation is MEC Librarian. Read more of Joseph's technicolor career highlights and the kind of librarian he dreams to be in the future.

a. What's your lib story? Describe how you made the choice of majoring in LIS and what was college life like for you as a LIS major.

BLIS was not my first course! Yes, I was taking-up BS Business Administration at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and was really eager to transfer to UP Diliman. After a year of earning high grades at PLM, I tried my luck to enter UP Diliman as a transferee student. Not knowing which course to take since Business Administration is a very competitive program in UPD, I ended up choosing LIS. I was interviewed by Prof. Quiros and Prof. Gonzales asking me why I have chosen LIS as my future career and I said that LIS is managing libraries in a general sense. I’m not sure if that answer qualified me to enter UPD.

As a student, I became a councilor of a college-based student council of the School of Library and Information Studies (formerly Institute of Library and Information Science). We were active in providing activities for our co-students. We published our own yearbook, conducted a concert, initiated a rummage sale, supported LIS wizards, did our amazing race challenge called “pabILISan” as part of our year-long activities.

I was given an opportunity by a former professor, Dr. Ricardo Punzalan, to experience an on-the-job training at the Culion Sanitarium Archives in Culion, Palawan together with a fellow student Melvin Chua as we were inclined with the Archives track when we were undergraduate students.
These are my challenging and success stories way back in college.

b. What has been the greatest challenge you've faced so far as a licensed and working librarian? Why do you say it's a challenge?

The greatest challenge is becoming an officer of a professional library association at an early career. I served MAHLAP for three years as PRO (2008/09) and Secretary (2010). After which I became ASLP’s PRO (2011), Vice President (2012) and President (2013).

As challenging as it can be, we are serving the librarians, providing them opportunities to learn, interact and network with other librarians as well.

c. What is your area of expertise in LIS?

I could say I am best at promoting and marketing libraries. Library promotion requires the following: knowing your target group (who and what to promote) and knowing where and when to seek for help.

I am a novice reference librarian. I want to see myself an expert in this field – business information reference specialist.

d. What do you think are the requirements and preparations necessary for becoming a LIS professional?

Proper education, training and experience. You should be able to learn how to answer your patron with a smile. In case where your patron is an avatar, say a digital library where smile
is not seen physically but only a smiley icon, you should learn how to answer electronic communications in a style which is considered friendly and accommodating.

e. What rewards have you reaped from being a LIS professional?

I was given different kinds of grants by different LIS organizations. I was given a conference grant, travel grant, study grant, scholarship grant and many others kinds of grants. I was able to travel and experience the culture of Europe, USA and parts of Asia.

More information about Joseph: http://aslpwiki.wikispaces.com/Joseph+M.+Yap