Beyond the Bookstacks
Challenges, Issues, Strategies Open toLibrarians of Today: The Road Map ofPhilippine LibrarianshipOverview of the Road
Map
• The Mission and Vision of Libraries• Librarians in various Roles in History• The Role of Libraries in Society : whyare Libraries important?

Overview of the Road
Map
• Current Scenario/Challenges of theDigital Age• Addressing the Challenges/Strategies• Pathways to SuccessThe Mission of Libraries• The Library is a gateway toglobal information, enabling
direct and remote access toInformation resources in avariety of formats.

The Mission of Libraries• The library is a dynamic partner in
imparting knowledge to users,
evolving to meet the changing needs of its
diverse community of learners, whileadvancing institutional mission, values,and vision.

The Vision
As a center of intense intellectual inquiry,
the Library is envisioned to be the mostdynamic learning environment in the world.
In this desired future, the Librarian
ensures that :• collections remain forward-looking,diverse in breadth and form, open tobrowsing, and of world-renowned quality.

The Vision• through marketing strategies,
people are made aware of theresources available to them• through innovation, access to theseresources is made faster and easier.

The Vision• to serve future users, information
across all formats is preserved for theuse of future generations.
• to satisfy the new breed of users,
the Library’s physical and virtual
spaces are well-equipped to respond tothe changing habits of its users

This Vision is Explicit in Section 2 of R.A.
9246
(Philippine Librarianship Act )“The State recognizes the essential roleof librarianship as a profession indeveloping the intellectual capacity of
the citizenry thus making libraryservice a regular component fornational development. …

Section 2 of RA 9246
It shall through honest, effective and credible
licensure examination and regulatory measures,
undertake programs and activities that would
promote and nurture the professional growth
and well-being of competent, virtuous,productive and well-rounded librarians whose
standards of practice and service shall becharacterized by excellence, quality, and geared
towards world-class global competitiveness.”Role of Librarians
Librarians are steering Libraries
towards the fulfillment of the urgent
and complex mission of sharingknowledge to users.

Role of Librarians

They create and implement programs
and services that promote successful
lifelong learning strategies.

Exciting Roles of Librarians inHistory
Mao Tse Tung,
Chairman of theCommunist Party ofChina and head of thecountry for 27 years,
learned about Marxism
from working as an
assistant to the Chief
Librarian at Peking
University

Exciting Roles of Librarians
in History
Laura Bush, former
first lady of the US,
was a librarian andschool teacher. She
holds a Master’s
degree in Library
Science earned fromthe University ofTexas, Austin

Exciting Roles of Librarians
in History
Giacomo Casanova,(1725-1798) Venetianadventurer andwriter, the world’s
greatest lover, spent
the last 14 years of hislife as a Librarian forCount von Waldsteinin Bohemia.

Exciting Roles of Librarians
in History
Charles Lutwidge
Dodgson, aka Lewis
Carroll, wasLibrarian at Christ
Church College,
Oxford before writing
Alice in Wonderland

Exciting Roles of Librarians inHistory
H.E. Seyed
Mohammad
Khatani, the 5th
President of Iranfrom 1997-2005, wasthe Head of theNational Library ofIran from 1992 until
winning thepresidency.

Exciting Roles of Librarians
in HistorySts. Jerome andLawrence are known
as patron saints oflibraries andlibrarians.
St. Jerome wrote.
Cataloged andtranslated
biblical scrolls

St. Lawrence was incharge of archiving
early churchrecords.

Prominent Filipino Librarians
Carlos L. Quirino(1910-1999)
Prominent historian,writer, and nationalartist. He was theDirector of theNational Libraryfrom 1961-1966

Prominent Filipino Librarians
Efipanio de losSantos
Noted historian, literary andart critic, prosecutor, jurist,journalist, antiquarian,bibliographer, archivist;
He was the Director of thePhilippine Library andMuseum in 1925

Policy maker/StrategistDigital
Repository
Creator andCurator

Social Networker/
Moderator

Knowledge
Manager orCoordinator

Innovator or
Change agent
or Technology
application leader
Information
Broker/Sifterof Information
SourcesMarketer/Advertiser/ Image Maker/
Communicator

Various Roles ofthe
21st Century
LibrarianBusiness
Manager

Collaborator/
Team Worker

Web Site
Designer/Builder/
Manager

Facilitator
Educator/
End-User
Trainer

Database
Creator/ManagerNew Breed of Librarians• Digital Services Librarian• Metadata Librarian• Emerging Technologies
Librarian• Systems Librarian• Etc.

Libraries/Librarians are
Necessary In Spite ofComputers and the WWW
1. Librarians link digitalknowledge with users
2. Libraries are a first step
toward literacy

More Values
3. Libraries are the mostdemocratic institutions
4. Librarians provide
training in information
literacy -Librarians help
people use the internet .

More Values
5. … and librarians help
people use the internet
better
6. Libraries are a gatheringplaceAnd More Ways Libraries
Matter in the Digital Age
7. Libraries are hubs forpreserving the past.
9. Libraries offer thehuman touch.
Source: http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/inside-scoop/10ways-libraries-matter-digital-age

Goals of the Road Map• Mindful construction of a roadmap will benefit library practiceand lead professionals to follow
the right path towards meetingthe vision of librarianship.

Goals of the Road Map• The road map is expected to showcase
challenges, and to formulate policies,strategies, and action programs
geared toward addressing issues andproblems of Librarians.

Current Scenario in ourEver-Changing Society• More sophisticated information-seeking
behavior and expectations of information
seekers – the millennials• Automation of the information
infrastructure - better modesof dissemination

Current Scenario in ourEver-Changing Society• Geometric increase in thevolume of information indigital and otherformats (multimedia)• Greater access to a wider range of andmore reliance on digital information
sources available via the WWWCurrent Scenario• Proactive collaboration and theincreasing popularization anddeepening of computer andcommunications
networks• Use of social media inknowledge management– blogs, wikis, tweets, etc.

The information seeker inthe digital age

Major Challenge: the New Breed ofInformation Seekers – theMillennials• Students/professionals born from 1982-2002,
who are at home with computers and digitalmedia• Confident and have high expectations

Major Challenge: the New Breedof Information Seekers – theMillennials• Format-agnostic – do not careabout format or media that carries theinformation they need, but prefer digitalsources• Nomadic – expecting services and resources
instantly when and where neededMajor Challenge: the New Breedof Information Seekers – theMillennials

The Librarians’ ability to linkthem with information is ameasure of continued relevanceChallenges Faced byLibrarians• More complex library tasks –urgent need to improve ITskills• Less people are using thelibraryChallenges Faced by Librarians• There is a need to justify alibrary’s existence - to show how
the Library contributes to theoverall mission of theorganization• The diminishing budget and theincreasing costs of electronic
resources

More Challenges•The identity and image
crisis of librarians•The shortage of Librarians•The quality of higher education
for LIS professionals

Addressing the Challenges:
Strategies (1)SustainedCapacity
Building/CPEStrictimplementationof established
Library standards

Review/Update accreditation
standards

Improving theimage/status/competencies
Create a matrixof personal &professional
competencies

Sanction noncompliance w/
Code of Ethics

Addressing the Challenges:
Strategies (2)Shortage of Licensed
Librarians/Unqualified
professionals in Librarian posts
Proactive
marketingstrategies

Involve APO,CHED,DepEd, andall stakeholders

CHED toinclude LIS
inscholarshipprogramIncrease
LLE passing%Supply and Demand for
Librarians
Elementary
Schools
37,338Top
corporations
1,000

SecondarySchools
6,002
Licensed librarians –6,200
Actual demand –50,ooooNationalgovernment
offices 1,000

Tertiary
Schools
4,323

Local
government
offices
43,755Performance of Library and Information
Professionals in the LLE, 2004-2011
Year
2004

Numberof Number
Examinees
Passers599
174

of Numberof Passing
Non-Passers Percentage
425
29.05

2005

762

240

522

31.50

2006

825

303

522

36.73

2007

868

278

590

32.03

2008

1,003

237

766

23.63

2009

947

284

663

30

2010

699

191

508

27.32

2011

764

211

553

28

Averages

808

240

569

30

Legal Strategies toaddress the shortage ofLibrarians
Amendmentof somesections ofRA 9246

Strictimplementationof R.A. 7743 orthe PublicLibraries Act

CreatePlantilla
Positions ofLibrarians in
Public Schoolsand SUCs

Proposeitem forLibrarians in
the Local
Government
CodeRepublic Act 9246
An Act modernizing the practice oflibrarianship in the Philippines
thereby repealing Republic Act no. 6966,
entitled: “An Act regulating thePractice of Librarianship andprescribing the qualifications oflibrarians," appropriating funds
therefore and for other purposes.
(Signed into law by former
Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on
February 19, 2004)

Republic Act 7743
An Act providing forthe establishment ofcongressional, city and municipal
libraries and barangay reading
centers throughout thePhilippines, appropriating thenecessary funds therefore and forother purposes.
Enacted on June 17, 1994

Local Government Code ofthe Philippines

No provision for
Librarian positions in
LGU Libraries

Addressing the Challenges (3)Sub-Standard quality of
LIS education in many
HEIs in the country

Regularreview of theBLIS and MLIS
curriculaStudy ofNonperforming
HEIs

System ofrewards/
sanctionsfor HEIs

Pathways to Success (1)Strategies

Timeline Responsiblility

1. Promote
Capacity Building
activities/Make
CPE Mandatory

20122013

BFL, APO,Congress, CPE
providers

2. Update librarystandards

20122013

BFL, APO,
Accrediting
Agencies

Pathways to Success (2)Strategies

Timeline

3. Create a matrix 2012of personal and 2013
professional
competencies

Responsiblility

BFL, APO, othernational libraryassociations

4. Active
2012 –BFL, HEIs, APO,
Marketing of the continuing and other national
profession
library associations

Pathways to Success (3)Strategies

Timeline

6. Improve LLE
2012passing percentage 2015
7. Regular Reviewof BLIS and MLIS
curricula

Responsiblility

BFL

2012BFL & CHED
continui Technical PanelngPathways to Success (4)Strategies

Timeline

Responsibility

8. Conduct ofpolicy research
projects

2012 –continuing

BFL

Pathways to Success (5)Strategies

Timeline

Responsibility

9. Legalstrategies

2012 andcontinuing

BFL, APO, Other
nationalassociations forlobbying;
Congress foramendment andenactment•Amendment of R.A.
#9246
•Implementation ofR.A.# 7743
•Create plantilla
positions in publicagencies

The Road Mapin CapsuleBeyond the Bookstacks: The Philippine
Librarianship Road Map 2012-2020
The Goal to 2020

Pathways to Success

Challenges Faced bythe Profession
6,200 Librarians, 45 HEIs
Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9246)

Beyond the Bookstacks: The Philippine
Librarianship Road Map 2012-2020
Challenges Faced by theProfession
1.Acute shortage
2.Identity and image crisis
3.Substandard quality of LIS
graduates

6,200 Librarians, 45 HEIs
Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9246)

Beyond the Bookstacks: The Philippine
Librarianship Road Map 2012-2020
Pathways to Success
1. Solutions to acute shortage• Proactive marketing and promotion strategies• Involvement of all stake holders• Increase LLE passing percentage• Include LIS in CHED priority scholarship• Legal strategies: amendments of R.A. 9246, implementation of R.A. 7344 or
Public Libraries Act, inclusion of librarians item in the LGU code, creating
plantilla positions of librarians in public schools and SUCs
2. Improve the image, status and competencies• Sustain capacity building/CPE• Strict implementation of library standards• Create a matrix of personal and professional competencies• Sanction non-compliance with technical standards and Code of Ethics• Review/update government regulation and accreditation standards
3. Improve quality of LIS education• Regular review of BLIS and MLIS curricula• Study of non-performing LIS HEIs
• Reward system/sanction of LIS HEIs

6,200 Librarians, 45 HEIs
Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9246)

Beyond the Bookstacks: The Philippine
Librarianship Road Map 2012-2020
Goal to 2020
To produce 50,000 competent, virtuous,
productive and well-rounded librarians whose
standards of practice and service shall becharacterized by excellence, quality and geared
towards world-class global competitiveness, to man
37,308 elementary schools, 6,000 secondaryschools, 2,200 tertiary schools with an average of 2librarians, 43,755 local gov’t offices, 1,000 national
gov’t offices and 1,000 top corporations. Librarians
who can fully develop the intellectual capacity ofcitizenry thus making library service a regularcomponent for national development (R.A.# 9246).
6,200 Librarians, 45 HEIs
Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9246)