The Philippine Librarianship Act oI

2003 (RA 9246) and the Policies and

Standards Ior the Bachelor oI
Library and InIormation Science
(BLIS): Bases Ior StaIIing Structure
and Training in the Philippines
Corazon M. Nera
Director oI Libraries, Lyceum oI the Philippines
Member, Board oI Librarians, PRC
Chronology of Events:
December 2, 2003 House Bill (HB) No. 5351 An Act
Moderning the Practice oI Librarianship in the
Philippines thereby Repealing RA 6966 was passed by
the House oI Representatives.
December 16, 2003 Senate Bill (SB) No. 2579 (Senate
version) was passed by the Senate.
February 19, 2004 The Consolidated HB No. 5351 and SB No.
2579 entitled, An Act Modernizing the Practice oI
Librarianship in the Philippines thereby Repealing
Republic Act No. 6966, Appropriating Funds ThereIor
and For Other Purposes was signed and approved by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as RA 9246.
March 1, 2004 RA 9246 was published in the Manila Times, a
national newspaper oI general circulation.
March 17, 2004 EIIectivity date oI RA 9246 IiIteen (15) days
Iollowing its publication in the Manila Times.
September 19, 1990-Approval oI the repealed law RA 6966,
An Act regulating the Practice oI Librarianship and
Prescribing the QualiIications oI Librarians by President
Corazon C. Aquino.
December 5, 1990 EIIectivity date oI RA 6966 and reckoning
date Ior the compliance oI requirements (e.g. years oI
experience in librarianship) Ior registration without
examination.
Republic Act No. 9246
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PRACTICE OF
LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY
REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6966, ENTITLED: 'AN
ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP
AND PRESCRIBING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF
LIBRARIANS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Section 1. SHORT Title. This Act shall be known as
'The Philippine Librarianship Act oI 2003.
SEC. 2. Statement Policy. The State recognizes
the essential role oI librarianship as a proIession in developing
the intellectual capacity oI the citizenry thus making library
service a regular component Ior national development. It shall
through honest, eIIective and credible licensure examination
and regulatory measures, undertake programs and activities
that would promote and nurture the proIessional and well-
rounded librarians whose standards oI practice and service
shall be characterized by excellence, quality, and geared
towards world-class global competitiveness.
Sec. 3. Obfectives. This Act shall govern the
Following:
(a) National examination Ior licensure, registration oI
librarians, issuance oI CertiIicate oI Registration and
ProIessional IdentiIication Card;
(b) Supervision, control and regulation oI practice oI
librarianship;
(c) Integration oI librarians under one national
organization; and
(d) Development oI proIessional competence oI
librarians.
Sec. 5. Scope of the Practice of Librarianship.
Librarianship shall deal with the perIormance oI the librarian`s
Iunction, which shall include, but not limited to the Iollowing:
(1) Selection and acquisition oI multi-media sources oI
inIormation which would best respond to clientele`s need Ior
adequate, relevant and timely inIormation;
(2) Cataloguing and classiIication oI knowledge or
sources oI inIormation into relevant organized collections and
creation oI local databases Ior speedy access, retrieval or
delivery oI inIormation;
(3) Development oI computer-assisted/computer-
backed inIormation systems which would permit online and
network services;
4) Establishment oI library systems and procedures;
dissemination oI inIormation; rendering oI inIormation;
reIerence and research assistance; archiving; and education oI
users;
(5) Teaching, lecturing and reviewing oI library,
archives and inIormation science subjects, including subjects
given in the licensure examination;
(6) Rendering oI services involving technical
knowledge/expertise in abstracting, indexing, cataloguing and
classiIying; or the preparation oI bibliographies, subject
authority lists, thesauri and union catalogues/lists;
(7) Preparation, evaluation or appraisal oI plans,
programs and/or projects Ior the establishment,organization,
development and growth oI libraries or inIormation centers,
and the determination oI library requirements Ior space,
buildings, structures or Iacilities;
(8) Provision oI proIessional and consultancy services
or advice on any aspect oI librarianship; and
(9) Organization, conservation, preservation and
restoration oI historical and cultural documents and other
intellectual properties.
SEC 6. reation and omposition of the Board.
There is hereby created a ProIessional Regulatory Board Ior
Librarianship, hereinaIter called the Board, under the
administrative supervision and control oI the ProIessional
Regulation Commission, hereinaIter reIerred to as the
Commission, to be composed oI a Chairperson and two (2)
members who shall be appointed by the President oI the
Philippines Irom among the list oI three (3) recommendees Ior
each position submitted by the Commission Irom among the
list oI Iive (5) nominees Ior each position submitted by the
accredited, integrated national proIessional organization oI
librarians Irom among the librarians oI recognized standing
who qualiIy under Section 7 oI this Act. The new Board shall
be constituted within three (3) months Irom the eIIectivity oI
this Act.
SEC. 7. ":alifications of Members of the Board. The
Chairperson and members oI the Board, at the time oI their
appointment, shall possess the Iollowing qualiIications:
(a) A natural born citizen and resident oI the
Philippines;
(b) A good reputation and moral character;
(c) A librarian as deIined in 'Section 4(a) oI this Act;
(d) Active in the practice oI librarianship Ior at least ten
(10) years, Iive (5) years oI which is in a managerial position;
(e) Must not be a member oI the Iaculty oI a university,
college, school or institution conIerring the academic degree
on librarianship, or oIIering review classes Ior librarian
licensure examination; nor a person who has a direct or
indirect precuniary interest in any such institution; and
(I) Must not be an incumbent oIIicer oI the accredited,
integrated national proIessional organization oI librarians.
SEC. 8. Powers, F:nctions and D:ties of the Board.
The Board shall exercise executive/administrative, rule making
and quasi-judicial powers in carrying out the provisions oI this
Act. It shall be vested with the Iollowing speciIic powers,
Iunctions, duties, and responsibilities:
(a) To promulgate and administer rules, and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions oI this Act;
(b) To administer oaths in connection with the
administration oI this Act;
(c) To adopt an oIIicial seal oI the Board;
(d) To issue, suspend or revoke the CertiIicate oI
Registration and ProIessional IdentiIication Card or grant or
cancel a temporary/special permit;
(e) To look into the conditions aIIecting the practice oI
librarianship, and when necessary, adopt such measures as may
be deemed proper Ior the enhancement and maintenance oI
high ethical, moral and proIessional standards oI librarianship
(I) To adopt policies and set the standards Ior all types
oI libraries, librarians and the practice oI librarianship;
(g) To ensure, in coordination with the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), that all institutions oIIering library,
archives and inIormation science education comply with
prescribed standards Ior curriculum, Iaculty and Iacilities Ior
course oIIerings oI library science, or library and inIormation
science;
(h) to adopt and prescribe a Code oI Ethics and a Code
oI Technical Standards Ior Librarians;
(i) To hear and decide administrative cases involving
violations oI this Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations
or the Code oI Ethics oI the CodeTechnical Standards Ior
Librarians; and Ior this purpose, issue subpoena ad
testiIicandum and the presentation oI documents in connection
therewith.;
(j) To prescribe guidelines in the Continuing
ProIessional Education (CPE) in coordination with accredited
and integrated association Ior proIessional librarians;
(k) To prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi or
terms oI speciIication oI subjects Ior the librarian licensure
examination consistent with the policies and standards set by
the CHED; and
(l) To discharge other powers and duties as the Board
may deem necessary Ior the practice oI librarianship and the
continued growth and development oI librarians, libraries and
library education in the Philippines.
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued
or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to review and
approval oI the Commission. However, the Board`s decision,
resolution or order rendered in administrative case shall be
subject to review only iI on appeal.
SEC. 9. Term of Office. The Chairperson and the
members oI the Board shall hold oIIice Ior a term oI three (3)
years until their successors shall have been appointed and duly
qualiIied: Provided, that members oI the Iirst board to be
appointed aIter the approval oI this Act shall hold oIIice Ior the
Iollowing terms:
the Chairperson Ior three (3)years, one member Ior two (2)
years and the other member Ior one (1) year: Provided,
Iurther, that the Chairperson or any member may be
reappointed Ior another term oI three (3) years but in no case
shall the whole term exceed six (6) years. Interim vacancies in
the Board shall be Iilled Ior the unexpired portion oI the term
only. Each member shall take the proper oath oI oIIice.
SEC. 11. Removal or S:spension of Board Members.
The Chairperson or any member oI the Board may be removed
or suspended by the President oI the Philippines on
recommendation oI the Commission iI Iound guilty aIter a
proper administrative investigation, based on the Iollowing
grounds: neglect oI duty, incompetence, unproIessional,
unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct; any violation oI
this Act, or the Code oI Ethics and the Code oI Technical
Standards Ior Librarians; or commission or toleration oI
irregularities in the examination such as manipulation, rigging
oI examination results, disclosure oI secrets and inIormation on
examination questions prior to conduct oI examination,
tampering oI grades or Iinal judgment, or criminal oIIense
involving moral turpitude
ARTICLE III
Licensure Examination and Registration
SEC. 14. aminations Applicants Ior registration,
except those speciIically allowed under Section 19 oI this Act,
shall be required to undergo a written licensure examination to
be given by the Board in such places and dated the
Commission may designate subject to compliance with the
requirements prescribed by the Commission.
SEC. 15. ":alifications of Applicants. Applicants Ior
licensure examination must meet the Iollowing qualiIications
at the time oI Iiling oI applications:
(a) Citizen oI the Philippines or a Ioreign citizen whose
country has a reciprocity with the Philippines as regards the
practice oI librarianship;
(b) Good health and good moral character; and
(c) Graduate oI Bachelor`s degree in Library Science
and InIormation Science: Provided, That a holder oI a
master`s degree in Library and InIormation Science shall be
allowed to qualiIy Ior application to the licensure examination:
Provided, Iurther, That within Iive (5) years Irom the
eIIectivity oI this Act, holders oI the Iollowing degrees shall
also be allowed to qualiIy Ior application to the licensure
examination:
(1) Bachelor oI Science in Education or Elementary
Education; or Bachelor oI Arts with a major or specialization
in Library Science;
(2) Master oI Arts in Library Science or Library and
InIormation Science; or
(3) Any masteral degree with concentration in Library
Science.
SEC. 16. Scope of amination. The licensure
examination Ior librarianship shall consist oI the Iollowing
subjects:
(1) selection and acquisition oI multi-media sources oI
inIormation;
(2) cataloguing and classiIication;
(3) indexing and abstracting;
(4) reIerence, bibliography and inIormation services;
(5) organization and, management and development
and maintenance oI multi-media based library or inIormation
service, laws, trends and practices aIIecting the proIession; and
(6) inIormation technology.
The Board is hereby authorized to modiIy or add to the
subjects listed above as the needs and demands in the library
proIession may require.
SEC. 17. Rating in the Board amination. To be
qualiIied as having passed the licensure examination, a
candidate must obtain a weighted general average oI seventy-
Iive percent (75), with no grade lower than IiIty percent
(50) in any subject.
SEC. 18. Registration Witho:t amination. Upon
application and payment oI the required Iees, the Board shall
issue a CertiIicate oI Registration and ProIessional
IdentiIication Card to an applicant who, on the date oI
eIIectivity oI Republic Act No. 6966, is:
(a) a practicing librarian who has completed at least a
bachelor`s degree and a librarian or supervising librarian
eligible;
(b) a practicing librarian who has completed at least a
bachelor`s degree, eighteen (18) units in Library Science, Iive
(5) years experience in librarianship, and a Iirst grade eligible
or its equivalent;
(c) a practicing librarian who has completed a masteral
degree in Library Science or Library and InIormation Science,
and a Iirst grade eligible or its equivalent; or
(d) a practicing librarian who has completed at least a
bachelor`s degree, eighteen units in Library Science, and seven
(7) years experience in librarianship.
Those who qualiIy under this section shall be given
three(3) years within which to apply Ior registration upon the
eIIectivity oI this Act.
ARTICLE IV
Practice oI Librarianship
Sec. 26. llegal Practice of Librarianship. A person
who does not have a valid CertiIicate oI Registration and
ProIessional IdentiIication Card or a temporary/special permit
Irom the Commission shall not practice or oIIer to practice
librarianship in the Philippines or assume any position, which
involve perIorming the Iunction oI a librarian as provided
under Section 5 oI this Act.
SEC. 27. ertificate of Registration/Professional
dentification ard and Professional Ta Receipt. the
CertiIicate oI Registration, ProIessional IdentiIication Card and
ProIessional Tax Receipt number oI the librarian shall be
reIlected in any document issued/signed in connection with the
practice oI the proIession.
SEC. 28. Foreign Reciprocity. A librarian Irom
another country shall be admitted Ior licensure examination, be
issued a CertiIicate oI Registration and ProIessional
IdentiIication Card and be entitled to the rights and privileges
appurtenant to this Act, iI the country or state he/she is a
citizen oI or subject, permits Filipino librarians to practice
librarianship on an equal basis as the librarians oI said country
or state: Provided, That the requirements Ior CertiIicate oI
Registration in said country or state are substantially the same
as the requirements under this Act: Provided, Iurther, that the
law oI such country or state grants Filipino librarians the same
privileges as the citizens/subjects oI that country/state.
SEC. 29. Jested Rights. A:tomatic Registration of
Practicing Librarians All practicing librarians who are
registered at the time this Act takes eIIect shall automatically
be registered.
SEC. 30. ntegrated and Accredited National
Organi:ation of Librarians. All registered librarians shall be
integrated under a single organization recognized and
accredited by the Board and approved by the Commission.
A librarian duly registered and licensed by the Board
and the Commission shall automatically become a member oI
the integrated and accredited proIessional organization and
shall receive the beneIits and privileges appurtenant thereto
upon payment oI the required Iees and duties. Membership in
the integrated and accredited proIessional organization shall
not be a bar to membership in any other association oI
librarians.
SEC. 31. mployment of Librarians. Only qualiIied
and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all
government libraries. Local government units shall be given a
period oI three (3 years) Irom the approval oI this Act to
comply with this provision.
SEC. 37. Repealing la:se. Republic Act. No. 6966
is hereby repeated and all other laws, decrees, orders, rules,
regulations, ordinances or parts thereoI which are inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 3. ffectivity. This act shall take eIIect IiIteen
(15) Days Iollowing its publication in the OIIicial Gazette or a
national newspaper oI general circulation.
CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER
No.
Series oI 2004
SUBJECT: HARMONIZED PROPOSED POLICIES
AND STANDARDS FOR BACHELOR
OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE (BLIS) PROGRAM
Policies and standards in Library and nformation Science
program are the desirable criteria of quality in a course
that aims to prepare graduates to be highly competent
and global competitive.
n accordance with pertinent provisions of Republic Act
(RA) 7722 otherwise knows as the "Higher Education Act
of 1994, vesting the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) through its Office of Programs and Standards
(OPS) the power to set minimum standards for programs
and institutions of higher learning and pursuant to the
provisions provided for under RA 9246 otherwise known as
'The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003, the following
policies and standards, as recommended by the Task
force on Library and nformation Science, are hereby
adopted and promulgated by the Commission, thus:
Section 1. RationaI and background
Policies and standards in library and nformation Science
(LS) programs are necessary for the highest level of
quality desired for the education and training of library and
information science professional. They are meant to
institutionalize the professions' central function of providing
quaIity information service to Iibrary cIienteIe or users.
ts purpose is to make LS education responsive to the
challenges of society's changing information needs brought
about by rapid technology changes, and in keeping with the
need to make LS professionals globally competitive.
Section 2. All private higher education institutions (PHEs)
and local colleges and universities (LCUs) intending to offer the
Bachelor of Library and nformation Science (BLS) Program
must secure proper authority from the Commission in
accordance herein. State universities and colleges (SUCs)
incIuding IocaI coIIeges and universities (LCUs) should
likewise adhere to the provision herein.
Section 4. Program Description
4.a Objectives
The BLIS curriculum shall include a body of
knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and experiences
that will provide prospective information professionals
with the necessary competencies essential for effective
provisions and delivery of library and information
services, the systematic organization,
conservation, preservation and restoration of
books, historicaI and cuIturaI documents and
other inteIIectuaI properties.
The specified body of knowledge, skills, attitudes,
values and experiences shall include the following:
A general education component which is consistent with
the CHED issuances will consist of the humanities, social
sciences, science and technology, natural and behavioral
sciences and computer literacy, mathematics, logic and
ethics aimed at developing broadly educated, creative,
cultured, morally upright and productive persons.
A professional studies component to include:
Philosophy and aims of LS;
The systematic study of LS principles and
theories with immediate appropriate observation
and laboratory experiences to provide students
with first-hand knowledge in the appreciation and
interpretation of these theories, and
A direct substantial participation in librarianship to
provide library and information science experience over
a period of time, under the supervision of qualified
professionals from both the LS institution and the
cooperating Library and nformation Center.
A minimum of 158 academic units is required for
graduation for the BLS degree.
4.b. Career opportunities in Librarianship
A library and nformation Science graduate has a great
opportunity to be empIoyed as:
Director of Libraries
Chief/Head Librarian
Abstractor
Archivist
Acquisitions Librarian
Bibliographer
Cataloger
College or University Librarian
Community Outreach Librarian
Corporate Librarian
Bookmobile Librarian
Documentalist
ndexer
nformation Scientist
nformation Specialist
Law Librarian
Library Science Faculty/Educator
Library Technician
Media or Audio Visual Specialist
Medical Librarian
Public Librarian
Researcher
School Librarian
Special Librarian
Teacher Librarian
Section 5. The LS program provides for the study of
theory, principles, and practices necessary for the
provision of quality and professional library and
information services. Within that context, competence
standards would be measured in terms of the following
core competencies:
1. Professional competencies which relate to the
student's knowledge of information sources, access,
technology and management, and the ability to use this
knowledge as a basis for providing the highest quality
information services.
2. Personal competencies which represent a set of
attitudes, skills and values that will enable students to
work effectively and contribute positively o their future
organizations, clients and profession.
Section 6. CurricuIum Description
The LS curriculum is designed to equip the professional with
the composite knowledge, skills and tools to enabled him/her to
be responsive to the changing information needs of society.
Among its salient features are:
1. Provision for the mastery of the basic subjects such as
Library and nformation Organization and Management,
including Laws and Related Practices and Trends, nformation
Technology, Selection and Acquisition of Library Materials,
Cataloging and Classification, Reference, Bibliography and
User Services, and ndexing and Abstracting, as called for in
the library and information professional licensure examination:
2. Addition of subjects in vital information and communication
technologies crucial in the LS program, like telecommuni-
cations, networking, and database design;
3. Enriched specialization component such as law, health
and medical, academic, special, school and public
librarianship;
4. Provision for community exposure through field-based
experiences through its library practicum subjects; and
5. Total immersion in library and information science
practice towards the end of the LS program.
Section 7. Course OutIine
Summary of the LS curriculum (see transparencies)
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES
1. The implementation of the LS curriculum shall start on
the SY 2004-2005 and shall be gradually effected as follows:
2004-2005 For incoming freshmen
2005-2006 For incoming freshmen and
sophomores
2006-2007 For incoming freshmen,
sophomores and seniors
2007-2008 All year levels
2. nstitutions with government permit or recognition to
offer the BSE programs will use the same authority to
offer this program without the need for new application.
3. Team teaching is encouraged for teaching any course
which calls for special expertise.
4. Practicum in the professional courses should be done by
the LS institutions in cooperation with Library and
nformation centers within and outside the campus.
5. Library Practicum shouId be offered during the
Fourth Year.
The student's performance will be evaluated using the
following criteria:
a. Performance in the assigned tasks, e.g.
cataloging, indexing, management,
information service, acquisitions work, etc. 60%
b. Preparation and submission of a journal
or narrative report of the experiences
and insights gained in the practicum. 30%
c. Other requirements, e.g. test,
attendance, etc. 10%
TOTAL 100%
6. A thesis project or thesis track is required to develop the
skills of LS students in conducting future research studies on
library and information service. Topics of the thesis project
will cover existing problems, issues and concerns about
Philippine librarianship and other related fields.