Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9246)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9246 is 'The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003.'
The State recognizes librarianship as essential in developing the intellectual capacity of citizens and commits to honest, effective licensure examinations and regulatory measures to promote the professional growth and competence of librarians for national development and global competitiveness.
A librarian is an individual who holds a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians and the Professional Regulation Commission according to this Act.
Functions include selection and acquisition of information sources, cataloguing and classification, development of computer-assisted information systems, establishing library systems, dissemination and education of users, teaching library science, rendering technical services, preparing library projects, providing consultancy, and preservation of documents.
The Board is composed of a Chairperson and two members appointed by the President from a list submitted by the Professional Regulation Commission and the integrated national organization of librarians, all of recognized standing and meeting qualifications in Section 7.
Members must be natural born Filipino citizens and residents, have good moral character, be practicing librarians with at least 10 years experience including 5 in managerial roles, must not be faculty or have pecuniary interests in librarian education institutions, nor be officers of the national professional organization.
The Board promulgates rules and regulations, administers the licensure exam, issues or revokes certificates, sets professional standards, ensures compliance with curricula, adopts codes of ethics, hears administrative cases, prescribes continuing education policies, and promotes the profession’s growth.
Applicants must be in good health and moral character, and be graduates of a Bachelor's degree in Library Science and Information Science or hold a master's degree in Library and Information Science; certain other related degrees were allowed within five years after the Act’s effectivity.
Subjects include selection and acquisition of information, cataloguing, indexing and abstracting, reference and information services, organization and management of libraries, laws and trends in the profession, and information technology.
A candidate must achieve a weighted general average of 75%, with no grade lower than 50% in any subject.
All practicing librarians registered at the time the Act takes effect shall automatically be registered under this new law.
Any person practicing librarianship without valid registration or permit shall be fined P30,000 to P100,000 or face imprisonment from one month to three years, at the court’s discretion.
No, membership in the integrated and accredited professional organization is automatic upon registration and payment of dues, but it does not bar membership in other librarian associations.
Foreign librarians may be admitted if their country allows Filipino librarians the same rights on equal terms and the country’s requirements for certification are substantially equivalent to the Philippines’ requirements.
Grounds include unprofessional conduct, malpractice, incompetence, fraud, enabling illegal practice, practicing during suspension, and violations of this Act, its rules, the Code of Ethics or Technical Standards.