Earning a License

Sixteen years ago, I took the exams for librarians that would earn me a license.

If my memory serves me right, Dean Igor Cabbab was my exams-mate. He was seated a few chairs in front of me. I was seated in front of Abigail Capitin. I did not know them then. Yet, I remember both their faces. They were very confident. Years after, in some librarian event or the other, I was able to pick up their names and match it with my memory of their bright faces.

What I remember well was the way I was squirming in my seat those two days of the exam. Unlike Dean Cabbab and Ms. Capitin, I was a bundle of nerves. I was so unsure of passing the board exam. As luck would have it, I passed a few steps above the passing mark. Mahal talaga ako ni Lord.

Passing the librarians' board exam meant everything to me. I took it as God's way of telling me to be a librarian. Back then, I was teaching in preschool.

As a young professional and licensed librarian, ang yabang ko. A few years of actual practice made me realize how complicated this issue of librarians earning a license was. Human factor so they say, it is not perfect. At present, it remains so. What with many non-licensed librarians practicing the profession equal to their licensed counterparts. Sigh.

My simple message to those who passed the librarians' board exam: the moral and ethical obligations to obtaining and having a license is a personal responsibility. Use it well.

Congratulations to you!

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.

Breaking the Silence: Extension Request In Vain

I have been terribly busy the past two weeks and to break this bit of news after a blogging hiatus in this blog is not very good at all. But news, good or bad, must be known to all. We are, still, in a democracy.

From my inbox via the Google group, Filipino Librarian --

For the information of those librarians who are graduates of BSE, BSEE, AB, and other degrees with major or specialization in Library Science, who would like to take the Licensure Exam for the last time (scheduled this Nov 2009), please be informed that the request made by the Board for Librarians for a resolution "extending the period within which to allow graduates of the above mentioned degrees to take the examination" has been denied. Justification for the denial is based on the provision of the law (RA 9246) which allowed the above mentioned graduates to take the licensure exam within the time frame of five (5) years from the effectivity of the law. Since the time period specified by the law has expired, any extension can only be done thru an amendment of the law, and any amendment "can only be made by the same
body that created the law."

You can also access the legal opinion dated 17 March 2009 addressed to Mrs. Corazon M. Nera, as Chairman of the Board for Librarians, at the PAARL Yahoo Groups

It does not bode well for many Filipino Librarians who finished an education degree, major in LIS. Pointing fingers will not help anyone at this point.

CPE* Provider

The Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians Association (PAARL) is pretty pleased and proud to have been honored by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) as an offical Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider for Filipino Librarians. This means that participants attending their fora, seminars and workshops will automatically earn CPE points necessary when renewing one's license.

PAARL has been officially certified by the members of the CPE Council of
the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians chaired by Hon.
Elizabeth R. Peralejo as a CPE provider for three (3) years from
2009-2011. This forthcoming seminar entitled "Librarians at their
Best: Envisioning and Realizing Multilevel and Progressive Readers
Services" which will be held at the Lyceum of Aparri, Cagayan Valley
from April 29 to May 1, 2009 has been approved and given 20 credit
units.

Please hurry and make your reservations soon if you want to be assured
of accommodation and transportation. Call or email Christopher Paras at:
09287960744 Email: paras.christopher@ gmail.com
mailto:paras.christopher@ gmail.com

This goes to show that PAARL lives up to its commitment in pursuing high professional standards for its members and for raising the bar among LIS professionals at large. Very soon, I hope, the Philippine Librarians Association Incorporated (PLAI) and the rest of the library organizations in the Philippines would follow suit. Unless there exist a set of requirements for a professional association to become an accredited CPE provider.

As in all things in this world, there's another side to the story. It is worth hearing how PAARL was able to achieve this feat.