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Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand three.
{ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9246}
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PRACTIVE 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
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I
TITLE, STATEMENT OF POLICY, DEFINITION OF TERMS, SCOPE OF THE PRACTICE
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as "The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003."
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. – The State recognizes the essential role of librarianship as a profession in developing the intellectual capacity of the citizenry thus making library service a regular component for national development. 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 be characterized by excellence, quality, and geared towards world-class global competitiveness.
SECTION 3. Objectives. – This Act shall govern the following:
a. National examination for licensure, registration of librarians, issuance of
Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card:
b. Supervision, control and regulation of practice of librarianship;
c. Integration of librarians under one national organizations;
d. Development of professional competence of librarians.
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms – As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined:
a. Librarian – refers to 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 and by the Professional Regulation Commission in accordance with this Act.
b. Commission – refers to the Professional Regulation Commission.
c. Board – refers to the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians.
SECTION 5. Scope of the Practice of Librarianship – Librarianship shall deal with the performance of the librarian’s functions, which shall include, but not be limited to the following:
1. Selection and acquisition of multi-media sources of information which would best
respond to clientele’s need for adequate, relevant and timely information;
2. Cataloguing and classification of knowledge or sources of information into
relevant organized collections and creation of local databases for speedy access, retrieval or delivery of information;
3. Development of computer-assisted/computer-backed information systems which
would permit online and network services;
4. Establishment of library system and procedures; dissemination of information;
rendering of information, reference and research assistance; archiving; and education of users;
5. Teaching, lecturing and reviewing of library, archives and information science
subjects, including subjects given in the licensure examination;
6. Rendering of services involving technical knowledge/expertise in abstracting,
indexing, cataloguing and classifying’ or the preparation of bibliographies, subject authority lists, thesauri and union catalogues/lists;
7. Preparation, evaluation or appraisal of plans, programs and/or projects for the
establishment, organization, development and growth of libraries or information centers, and the determination of library requirements for space, buildings, structures or facilities;
8. Provision of professional and consultancy services or advice on any aspect of
librarianship; and
9. Organization, conservation, preservation and restoration of historical and cultural
documents and other intellectual properties.
ARTICLE II
CREATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD FOR LIBRARIANS
SECTION 6. Creation and Composition of the Board. – There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians, hereinafter called the Board, under the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be composed of a Chairperson and two (2) members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the list of three (3) recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission from among the list of five (5) nominees for each position submitted by the accredited integrated national professional organization of librarians from among the librarians of recognized standing who qualify under Section 7 of this Act. The new Board shall be constituted within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act.
SECTION 7. Qualification of Members of the Board. – The Chairperson and members of the Board, at the time of their appointment, shall posses the following qualifications:
a. A natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines;
b. A good reputation and moral character;
c. A librarian as defined in "Section 4(a)" of this Act;
d. Active in the practice of librarianship for at least ten (10) years, five (5) years of
which is in a managerial position;
e. Must not be a member of the faculty of a university, college, school or institution
conferring the academic degree on librarianship, or offering review classes for librarian licensure examination; nor a person who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any such institution; and
f. Must not be an incumbent officer of the accredited, integrated national
professional organization librarians.
SECTION 8. Powers, Functions and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall exercise executive/administrative, rule making and quasi-judicial powers in carrying out the provisions of this Act. It shall be vested with the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsiblities;
the Commission if found guilty after a proper administrative investigation, based on the following grounds: neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct; any violation of this Act, or the Code of Ethics and the Code of Technical Standards for Librarians; or commission or toleration of irregularities in the examination such as manipulation, rigging of examination results, disclosure of secrets and information on examination questions prior to conduct of examination, tampering of grades or final judgment, or criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
SECTION 12. Executive Officer and the Secretary of the Board.. – The Chairperson of the Commission shall be the Executive Officer of the Board and shall conduct the licensure examination for librarians. The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the Secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of this Act.
All records of the Board including the examination papers, minutes of deliberations, and records of administrative proceedings and investigations shall be kept by the Commission under the direct custody of the Secretary.
SECTION 13. Annual Report.. – The Board shall submit to the Commission after the close of each calendar year, its annual report of accomplishments which shall include a detailed account of the operation of the Board for the year and the appropriate recommendation on issues or problems affecting the profession.
ARTICLE III
LICENSURE EXAINATION AND REGISTRATION
SECTION 14. Examinations. – Applications for registration, except those specifically allowed under Section 19 of this Act, shall be required to undergo a written licensure examination to be given by the Board in such places and dates the Commission may designate subject to compliance with the requirements prescribed by the Commission.
SECTION 15. Qualifications of Applicants – Applicants for licensure examination must meet the following qualifications at the time of filing of applications:
a. Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country has reciprocity with
the Philippines as regards the practice of librarianship;
b. Good helath and good moral character, and
c. Graduate of Bachelor’s degree in Library Science and Information Science:
Provided, That a holder of a master’s degree in Library and Information Science Shall be allowed to qualify for application to the licensure examinations: Provided, fruther, That within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, holders of the following degrees shall also be allowed to qualify for application to the licensure examination:
1. Bachelor of Science in Education or Elementary Education; or Bachelor of Arts
with a major or specialization in Library Science;
2. Master of Arts in Library Science or Library and Information Science; or
3. Any masteral degree with concentration in Library Science.
SECTION 16. Scope of Examination – The licensure examination for librarianship shall consist of the following subjects;
1. selection and acquisition of multi-media sources of information;
2. cataloguing and classification;
3. indexing and abstracting;
4. reference, bibliography and information services;
5. organization, management and development and manintenance of multi-media
based library or information service, laws, trends and practices affecting the profession; and
6. information technology.
The Board is hereby authorized to modify or add to the subjects listed above as the needs and demands in the library profession may require.
SECTION 17. Rating in the Board Examination – To be qualified as having passed the licensure examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of seventy-five percent (75%), with no grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any subject.
SECTION 18. Report of Results of Examination. – The Board shall report to the Commission the results of the examination and the ratings of the examinees within ten (10) days after the examination.
SECTION 19. Registration Without Examination.. – Upon application and payment of the required fees, the Board shall issue a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card to an applicant who, on the date of effectrivity of 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 completed at least a bachelor’s degree, eighteen (18)
units in Library Science, five (5) years experience in librarianship, and a first grade eligible or its equivalent;
c. a practicing obirarian who has completed a masteral degree in Library Science or
Library and Information Science, and a first grade eligible or its equivalent; or
d. a practicing librarian who has completed at least a bachelor’s degree, eighteen
(18) unit in Library Science, and seven (7) years expreience in librarianship.
Those who quality under this Section shall be given three (3) years within which to apply for registration upon the effectivity o this Act.
SECTION 20. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. – The Commission, on recommendation of the Board, shall issue a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card to each person who passed the licensure examination for librarians and to those who are registered without examination under this Act and shall enter name of the registered professional in the Roster of Philippine Librarians.
The Certificate of Registration shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Chairperson and members of the Board, stamped with official seals of the Board and Commission indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. The said certificate of registration shall remain in full force and effect until suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act.
A professional identification card bearing the name and signature of the registrant, registration number, date of issuance, expiry date, duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee.
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 tp 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.
SECTION 27. Certificate of Registration/Professional Identification Card and Professional Tax Receipt. – The Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card and Professional Tax Receipt number of the librarian shall be reflected in any document issued/signed in connection with the practice of the profession.
SECTION 28. Foreign Reciprocity. – Alibrarian from another country shall be admitted for licensure examination, be issued a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card and be entitle to the rights and privileges appurtenant to this Act, if the country or state he/she is a citizen of or subject, permits Filipino librarians of said country or state: Provided, That the requirements for Certificate of Registration in said country or state are substantially the same as the requirements under this Act: Provided, further, That the law of such country or state grants Filipino librarians the same privileges as the citizens/subjects of that country/state.
SECTION 29. Vested Reights: Automatic Registration of Practicing Librarians. – All practicing librarians who are registered at the time this Act takes effect shall automatically be registered.
SECTION 30. Integrated and Accredited National Organization 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 of the integrated and accredited professional organization and shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of the required fees and dues. Membership in the integrated and accredited professional organization shall not be a bar to membership in any other association of librarians.
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.
ARTICLE V
PENAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
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 Certicate 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.
SECTION 33. Funding Provision. – The Chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission shall immediately include in the Commission’s program the implementation this Act, the funding which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 34. Transitory Provision. – The present Board shall continue to function in the interim until such time as the new Board shall have been constituted pursuant to this Act.
SECTION 35. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, shall promulgate, adopt and issue rules and regulations, and the Code of Ethics and the Code of Technical Standards for Librarians which shall take effect fifteen (15) days following publication in the official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.
SECTION 36. Separability Clause. – If any clause, provision, paragraph or part hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall affect, invalidate or impair any other part hereof, but such judgement shall be merely confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment has been rendered.
SECTION 37. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 6966 is hereby repealed and all other laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations, ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly,
SECTION 38. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.
(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON (Sgd.) JOSE DE VENESIA JR. President of the Senate Speaker of the House of the Representatives
This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No.5351 and Senate Bill No. 2579 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 2, 2003 and December 16, 2003, respectively
(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES (Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Secretary of the Senate Secretary General House of Representatives
Approved: Feb 19 2004
(Sgd) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
