Librarian Seminars and Workshop (August-September 2010)

I got several invites last month as resource speaker for a series of librarian seminars and workshops.

On 27 August 2010, I will be at the old Nielsen Tower for Filipinas Heritage Library's Library Link Conference to speak of the end of publishing (what?!) and the future of books, reading and libraries. On 4 September 2010, I'll be with NCR teacher librarians for an Adarna House sponsored workshop on the Library Hub project of the DepEd. A day before this event, I might be in Vigan, Ilocos Sur for the annual conference of the Philippine Public Librarians League, Inc. to tackle on the topic of reading in the digital age.

Exciting topics! The burning questions I have right now are these: How can participants' learning or insights be measured? What feedback mechanisms can organizers use to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop or seminar? My point is such that, while these professional growth activities flourish, some concrete products of learning or change in behavior can be identified. PAARL, for one, is giving away awards for librarians and libraries who can create programs and activities from their workshops. Cool, huh?!

From Sea to Mountain

This is just a note to say that I have safely arrived in Baguio City at 12:05 this morning.

After landing safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 3:30PM yesterday, I dropped by at my sister-in-law's place to get my Baguio baggages. The six hour trip from Cubao to Baguio went on pretty smoothly with two stop overs - Dau and Cabanatuan (?).

I am now in Teachers' Camp, Baguio City sharing a room/dorm with nine participants of PASL's (Philippine Association of School Librarians) National Seminar on Effective Strategies and Approaches.

The weather is very cold. Sorsogon and Legazpi weather were tepid to humid. Baguio climate and temperature bites at the toes, ears and nose. Now I need to grab a few hours of sleep.

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.