QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9246)
RA 9246 is titled the “Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003.” It modernizes the practice of librarianship in the Philippines, repeals RA 6966, provides for licensure and regulation, and promotes the professional growth and well-being of librarians.
The State recognizes librarianship as essential for developing the intellectual capacity of citizens and making library service a regular component for national development, through honest and credible licensure and regulatory measures, and by promoting excellent standards of practice and service.
A librarian is an individual who is a bona fide holder of a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians (Board) and the Professional Regulation Commission (Commission) in accordance with the Act.
It includes (but is not limited to) selection and acquisition of information sources, cataloguing and classification, development of information systems and online/network services, establishment of library procedures, dissemination of information and reference services, education of users, technical services like indexing/abstracting/cataloguing/classifying, preparation of bibliographies and thesauri/union catalogues, planning for libraries and information centers, consultancy services, and organization/conservation/preservation of historical and cultural documents and intellectual properties.
It has a Chairperson and two (2) members appointed by the President from among recommendees submitted by the Commission, based on nominees from the accredited and integrated national professional organization of librarians.
They must be natural-born citizens and residents, of good reputation and moral character, librarians as defined by the Act, active in librarianship for at least 10 years (5 in managerial position), must not be faculty of librarianship/LIC review institutions nor have pecuniary interest there, and must not be incumbent officers of the accredited integrated national professional organization of librarians.
The Board has executive, administrative, rule-making, and quasi-judicial powers, including issuing/suspending/revoking certificates, setting standards and codes, ensuring library education compliance with prescribed standards (coordinating with CHED), hearing and deciding administrative cases, and prescribing guidelines for Continuing Professional Education (CPE), among others.
Applicants (except those allowed under Section 19) must undergo a written licensure examination given by the Board in places and dates designated by the Commission.
Applicants must have good health and good moral character and be graduates of a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science and Information Science; a master’s degree holder in Library and Information Science may qualify. Within five years from effectivity, additional degree holders (e.g., certain education or library science degrees specified in the law) may qualify as well.
Selection and acquisition of multi-media sources; cataloguing and classification; indexing and abstracting; reference, bibliography and information services; organization/management/development/maintenance of multi-media based library or information service plus laws, trends, and practices affecting the profession; and information technology. The Board may modify/add subjects as needs require.
A candidate must obtain a weighted general average of 75%, with no grade lower than 50% in any subject.
Applicants who meet specified criteria as of the effectivity date of RA 6966 (e.g., practicing librarians with certain degrees/units and experience, or master’s degree qualifications) may be issued registration and a professional identification card without examination, and those who qualify have three (3) years from the effectivity of RA 9246 to apply.
Successful examinees qualified for registration and qualified applicants under registration without examination must take an oath of profession before an authorized Commission officer/member of the Board or government official authorized to administer oaths.
Grounds include those in Section 22 (e.g., conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude, immoral/dishonorable conduct, unsound mind) and additional grounds such as unprofessional/dishonorable conduct, malpractice, incompetence, serious ignorance or negligence, fraud/deceit/falsification in obtaining credentials, abetment of illegal practice by allowing illegal use of one’s certificate/permit, practicing during suspension, and violations of RA 9246, its IRR, Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards, or Board policies.
A person without a valid Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card or temporary/special permit may not practice or offer to practice librarianship or assume positions involving librarian functions. Violators are penalized upon conviction with a fine and/or imprisonment as specified in Section 32.
Only qualified and licensed librarians may be employed as librarians in all government libraries, and local government units are given three (3) years from approval of the Act to comply.
The present Board continues to function in the interim until the new Board is constituted under the Act, and RA 9246 takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper of general circulation.