Basic Teacher-Librarians Workshop

I was invited by the Rizal Library and Pathways To Higher Education for a talk on school library reading programs last month. The one hour lecture is part of the Basic Teacher-Librarians Workshop organized by the Rizal Library to re-orient and start off the teacher librarians who will run and manage the libraries in their schools.

For my talk, I gave the participants an overview of Reading. In planning and implementing library reading programs, the librarian (for this context it is the teacher-librarians who are concerned) needs to see the bigger picture of Reading. This would help him/her in organizing relevant and meaningful literacy activities for students in particular and the school community in general. I included an array of reading activities that teacher-librarians can do. The activities range from individual to group and community wide initiatives. Lastly, I presented a framework for them to use when planning the proposal for a library reading program.



This initiative may seem to run opposite the ideals of RA 9246. But one has to see the bigger picture. Due to the dearth of licensed librarians as well as work items for librarians in the public school system, most school administrations resort to assigning teachers to man the school library. On top of their teaching loads, teachers become officers-in-charge of the school library.

The need to apply and implement this law is great, indeed.

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.

Filipino Librarians, License and Professional Practice

There's an interesting discussion thread on licensed (registered) librarians, professional practice and its legal underpinnings over at FilipinoLibrarians. As a member of the egroup, I read different views and opinions on the matter. I was tempted to reply and give my two cents worth but decided otherwise. It's better that I do so in this blog.

So here are my thoughts.

On the issue of license. It is a mandate of law that Filipino librarians acquire a license to practice the profession. This means the government has authorized legal and MORAL rights for licensed librarians to work in schools, companies, private and government agencies. The implication is such that, the licensed librarian has earned a security of tenure depending on internal policies of the institution. A license is required of librarian applicants, besides. The employer, on the other hand, seeks to hire and maintain in its armada of workers a licensed professional. The earned license makes the librarian a legal entity. Every Filipino librarian must therefore comprehend and read the RA 9246.

On the professional practice of librarians.The responsibility to follow and abide the rule of law works both ways. The librarian MUST have a license. The employer MUST hire a licensed librarian. Both must now be aware of RA 9246 and its implications. Enter a problem. What happens now for librarians without license? They are many. These librarians have tried, but failed. These librarians have seen the comings and goings of the seasons.

As far as my experience could speak of, policies of retention and retrenchment vary from one employer to another. Government offices and institutions have their own set as well. A law is a law. No one is above it. In the first place, the law exists to protect the rights of librarians. One may argue that non-licensed librarians are just as professionally competent. Well, one mark of a true professional is his/her adherence to the rule of law. If the non-licensed librarian does not have the moral fiber to earn a license, then the employer could motivate, push, pressure, do everything in its power to meet this requirement.

If all else fails, then perhaps it is time to pursue another profession. Harsh, I know. But these are the way things are.