Teacher-librarians are primarily certified teaching professionals who are assigned concurrently as librarians in schools where they teach. In majority of cases, public school teachers are assigned to man the libraries in the absence of interested qualified librarian-applicants. In essence, they do missionary work by accepting such library work assignments. Instead of adding more pressures to their already insecure and ambivalent positions, it would be better if their employing institutions will provide the much-needed incentives to provide them ample opportunities for specialized training in librarianship, such as time-off and financial support to participate in seminars, conferences, forums, and training-workshops that will add stock knowledge and teach them how to do things right.
What will do more justice to these teacher-librarians is the timely implementation of the law upgrading their salaries, following DECS order no 6 of 1998, on guidelines on the implementation of school library policies and programs, to quote "a teacher librarian, (as an incentive,) will be one salary grade higher than other faculty members." On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 1:49 PM, zarah gagatiga <[email protected]> wrote: > this can work for now. however, these non-librarians practicing the art and > science of library and information science SHOULD be given a condition that > at some period of time, they MUST have earned their license. > to amplify, an employer of a non-licensed librarian may sit down with > him/her to discuss plans and actions on how he/she can take MA classes in > library and info science for, say, two years. after that, a year to earn a > license. this can be an agreement between the employer and the non-licensed > librarian. it would be good if this is put in writing -- a black and white > document that serves as a contract as well. if the non-licensed librarian > fail to do so, then the employer can do its part to hire a licensed > librarian or follow what policy it has for such cases. > just my two-cents worth. > this situation may happen in private institutions but i do not know how > things are in government practice. > > On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 1:34 PM, Vhic Gilos <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Fellow Librarians, >> >> Just a thought... While contemplating on RA 9246 and at the same >> time preparing for CICT iSchool roll-out wherein I will be teaching >> non-librarians acting as librarians in public secondary schools the ways of >> a librarian, a thought occurred to me that instead of discouraging, I will >> be encouraging them to continue acting as librarians even if it is against >> the law. The same way that other SUC librarians did in their localities. >> >> If you disagree with me, I'd like to hear your point of views >> regarding the help I will be extending to teachers acting as librarians. >> Thank you. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 11:18 PM, vonjobi <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> A discussion on the violation of certain provisions of Republic Act No. >>> 9246 (or R.A. 9246), specifically the continued employment of unlicensed >>> librarians in the Philippines, is now on its third week at the Filipino >>> Librarians Googlegroup (1 2 3 4). Some have suggested that there are certain >>> situations where violating the law is justified, but the appointment of >>> non-librarians to head a library, despite the presence of qualified, >>> licensed librarians, is indefensible. And then there are the unlicensed >>> librarians who have been "OICs," supposedly a temporary designation, for >>> almost two decades. >>> >>> It is not clear, however, whether those who have been suggested as the >>> individuals or groups who can do something about the concerns raised are >>> reading these emails. But it is also important to remember that it is not >>> just somebody else's responsibility to make sure the law is followed; it is >>> also our responsibility. Why do I say this? Zarah Gagatiga has already >>> pointed out that, "The librarian MUST have a license. The employer MUST hire >>> a licensed librarian." But what if they DON'T? Do we just wait for the >>> powers-that-be to put things right? Below are the relevant sections of R.A. >>> 9246 and my comments, followed by suggestions on what licensed librarians >>> can do to uphold the law: >>> >>> SECTION 26. Illegal Practice of Librarianship. – A person who does not >>> have a valid Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification >>> Card or a temporary/ special permit from the Commission shall not practice >>> or offer to practice librarianship in the Philippines or assume any >>> position, which involve performing the function of a librarian as provided >>> under Section 5 of this Act. >>> >>> The "person" referred to in Section 26 is, in essence, someone who is >>> working as a librarian illegally. Note, too, that there are no exceptions >>> granted for certain kinds of librarians (e.g., special librarians). Everyone >>> working as a librarian in the Philippines is covered by this law. The only >>> exceptions, I suppose, are those whose employers are not covered by >>> Philippine laws, like some international agencies. >>> >>> SECTION 31. Employment of Librarians. – Only qualified and licensed >>> librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries. >>> Local government units shall be given a period of three (3) years from the >>> approval of this Act to comply with this provision. >>> >>> The emphasis in Section 31 on government libraries does not imply that >>> the law applies only to librarians working for the government. All this is >>> means is that the government, as the single, largest employer of librarians, >>> was singled out for special attention. >>> >>> SECTION 32. Penal Provisions. – Any person who practices or offers to >>> practice any function of a librarian as provided for under Section 5 of this >>> Act who is not registered and has not been issued by the Commission a >>> Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card, or a >>> temporary license/permit or who violates any of the provisions of this Act, >>> its Implementing Rules and Regulations, shall, upon conviction , be >>> penalized by a fine of not less that Thirty thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or >>> imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than three (3) years at >>> the discretion of the court. >>> >>> The most important phrase here is, to me, "upon conviction." Thus, a case >>> has to be filed against the librarian. But I do wonder why the employer goes >>> unpunished. Shouldn't the employer be liable as well? Note, however, that >>> Section 32 is one of the sections that clearly shows that those who drafted >>> R.A. 9246 were not as careful as they should have been. What exactly did >>> they mean by "not less that Thirty thousand pesos (P100,000.00)"? >>> >>> There are, of course, certain realities that must be acknowledged, such >>> as the fact that no one is really enforcing the law. Academic and school >>> librarians are in a better position because accrediting agencies mark down >>> universities and schools for non-compliance with the law, but all other >>> kinds of libraries, including the public libraries funded by local >>> governments, can ignore R.A. 9246 if they so desire. Have cases been filed >>> against unlicensed librarians? Have any been convicted? If so, please let me >>> know. >>> >>> The following are my suggestions for those who wish to see R.A. 9246 >>> implemented properly: >>> >>> Verify whether someone working as a librarian is licensed or unlicensed. >>> The Board for Librarians, the National Library, the Civil Service >>> Commission, and the Philippine Librarians Association are supposed to have >>> "up-to-date, complete and properly organized" lists of all licensed >>> librarians in the Philippines. >>> Write a letter to the person, with copies to the person's employer, the >>> Board for Librarians and the Philippine Librarians Association (and, if >>> applicable, the National Library and/or the Civil Service Commission), >>> indicating all the pertinent details and exactly how the provisions of R.A. >>> 9246 have been violated, pointing out that the person's continued employment >>> is punishable by law. Make sure you keep copies of all correspondence, and >>> ask recipients to sign for any letters you give them. >>> If your letters are ignored or you are discriminated against or fired >>> (because the person was your boss, for instance), file a case against the >>> person at all appropriate agencies. >>> If filing a case, or even writing letters to the person or agencies >>> concerned, is not an option, send letters to local and national newspapers >>> laying out how the law is being violated. While this may be done >>> anonymously, it is perhaps best that you identify yourself. >>> >>> All these are, of course, easier said than done. But all we really need >>> is one, high-profile case, preferably involving a well-known employer, that >>> can then be used to show others who are violating the law that librarians >>> are serious about policing their ranks. >>> >>> -- >>> Posted By vonjobi to Filipino Librarian at 2/02/2010 10:07:00 AM >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Filipino Librarians" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/filipinolibrarians?hl=en. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Filipino Librarians" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/filipinolibrarians?hl=en. > > > > -- > -z- > http://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com > http://sumatrawoman.blogspot.com > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Filipino Librarians" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/filipinolibrarians?hl=en. > -- Fe Angela M. Verzosa Email: [email protected] Mobile 09196048060 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Filipino Librarians" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/filipinolibrarians?hl=en.
