AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6966

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of the Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003

Title and Policy Statement
• The Act is known as "The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003". (Section 1)
• It recognizes the essential role of librarianship in developing intellectual capacity and aims to promote professional growth and well-being of librarians through licensure, regulation, and development programs. (Section 2)

Objectives
• Govern national examination, registration, and issuance of certificates for librarians. (Section 3a)
• Supervise, control, and regulate the practice of librarianship. (Section 3b)
• Integrate librarians under one national organization. (Section 3c)
• Develop professional competence of librarians. (Section 3d)

Definitions
• Librarian: An individual holding a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians and the Professional Regulation Commission. (Section 4a)
• Commission: The Professional Regulation Commission. (Section 4b)
• Board: The Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians. (Section 4c)

Scope of Librarianship Practice
• Selection and acquisition of information sources. (Section 5.1)
• Cataloguing, classification, and creation of databases for information access and retrieval. (Section 5.2)
• Development of computer-assisted information systems and online/network services. (Section 5.3)
• Establishment of library systems, procedures, dissemination of information, reference and research assistance, archiving, and user education. (Section 5.4)
• Teaching, lecturing, and reviewing library, archives, and information science subjects, including licensure examination subjects. (Section 5.5)
• Rendering services involving technical knowledge in abstracting, indexing, cataloguing, classifying, and preparing bibliographies, authority lists, thesauri, and union catalogues/lists. (Section 5.6)
• Preparation, evaluation, or appraisal of plans, programs, and projects for establishing, organizing, developing, and growing libraries or information centers, and determining library requirements. (Section 5.7)
• Provision of professional and consultancy services or advice on any aspect of librarianship. (Section 5.8)
• Organization, conservation, preservation, and restoration of historical and cultural documents and other intellectual properties. (Section 5.9)

Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians
• A Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians is created under the Professional Regulation Commission. (Section 6)
• The Board consists of a Chairperson and two members appointed by the President from a list of nominees submitted by the accredited integrated national professional organization of librarians. (Section 6)
• Qualifications for Board members include being a natural-born Filipino citizen, having good moral character, being a registered librarian with at least 10 years of active practice (5 years in a managerial position), not being a faculty member of a library science degree-granting institution, and not being an incumbent officer of the accredited national organization of librarians. (Section 7)
• The Board has executive/administrative, rule-making, and quasi-judicial powers to carry out the provisions of the Act. (Section 8)
• The Board's powers and duties include promulgating rules and regulations, administering oaths, adopting an official seal, issuing/suspending/revoking certificates and permits, adopting policies and standards for libraries and librarians, ensuring compliance of library science education programs, adopting a Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards, hearing and deciding administrative cases, prescribing guidelines for Continuing Professional Education (CPE), preparing syllabi for licensure examinations, and discharging other necessary powers and duties. (Section 8)
• The Board members have a term of 3 years, with a maximum of 6 years, and may be reappointed for another term. (Section 9)
• The Board members receive compensation and allowances comparable to existing regulatory boards under the Commission. (Section 10)
• Board members may be removed or suspended by the President for grounds such as neglect of duty, incompetence, unethical conduct, violations of the Act or Codes, or irregularities in examinations. (Section 11)
• The Chairperson of the Commission is the Executive Officer of the Board, and the Commission designates the Secretary of the Board and provides support services. (Section 12)
• The Board submits an annual report of accomplishments and recommendations to the Commission. (Section 13)

Licensure Examination and Registration
• Applicants for registration must undergo a written licensure examination, except those specifically allowed under Section 19. (Section 14)
• Qualifications for examination applicants include being a Filipino citizen or a foreign citizen whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines, having good health and moral character, and holding a Bachelor's degree in Library Science and Information Science or a Master's degree in Library and Information Science. Within 5 years from the Act's effectivity, holders of certain other degrees are also allowed to qualify. (Section 15)
• The licensure examination covers subjects such as selection and acquisition of information sources, cataloguing and classification, indexing and abstracting, reference and information services, organization and management of libraries, laws and trends affecting the profession, and information technology. The Board may modify or add subjects as needed. (Section 16)
• To pass the examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted general average of 75%, with no grade lower than 50% in any subject. (Section 17)
• The Board reports the examination results and ratings to the Commission within 10 days after the examination. (Section 18)
• Upon application and payment of fees, the Board shall issue a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card to applicants who were practicing librarians on the date of effectivity of Republic Act No. 6966 and meet certain educational and experience requirements. They have 3 years from the Act's effectivity to apply for registration. (Section 19)
• The Commission issues a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card to those who passed the licensure examination or are registered without examination. The Certificate bears the signatures and seals of the Board and Commission. The Professional Identification Card bears the registrant's name, registration number, and other details. (Section 20)
• Successful examinees and qualified applicants for registration without examination must take an oath of profession before entering the practice of librarianship. (Section 21)
• The Board may refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card to those convicted of criminal offenses involving moral turpitude, found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct, or declared of unsound mind. (Section 22)
• The Board has the power to revoke or suspend a Certificate of Registration or cancel a temporary/special permit for grounds such as unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, fraud, abetment of illegal practice, practice during suspension, or violation of the Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the Code of Ethics, or the Code of Technical Standards. The respondent may appeal the Board's decision to the Commission within 15 days. (Section 23)
• The Board may reissue a revoked Certificate of Registration after 2 years upon proper application. Lost or mutilated Certificates or Professional Identification Cards may be replaced after payment of the required fee. (Section 24)
• The Board, in coordination with the accredited national organization of librarians, maintains an up-to-date Roster of librarians, including those issued Certificates under Republic Act No. 6966 and those who qualify under this Act. The Roster contains alphabetical and numerical lists of librarians and their details. Copies are provided to the National Library, Civil Service Commission, and the accredited national organization of librarians. (Section 25)

Practice of Librarianship
• A person without a valid Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card or a temporary/special permit shall not practice or offer to practice librarianship or assume positions involving the functions of a librarian as provided under Section 5. (Section 26)
• The Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card, and Professional Tax Receipt number of the librarian must be reflected in any document issued/signed in connection with the practice of the profession. (Section 27)
• Foreign librarians may be admitted for licensure examination, issued a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card, and entitled to rights and privileges under this Act if their country permits Filipino librarians the same privileges and has substantially the same requirements for registration. (Section 28)
• All practicing librarians registered at the time this Act takes effect shall automatically be registered. (Section 29)
• All registered librarians shall be integrated under a single organization recognized, accredited by the Board, and approved by the Commission. Membership in the integrated organization is automatic upon payment of fees and dues and does not bar membership in other associations. (Section 30)
• Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries. Local government units have 3 years from the Act's approval to comply. (Section 31)

Penal and Final Provisions
• Any person who practices or offers to practice the functions of a librarian without being registered and issued a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card or a temporary license/permit, or who violates any provision of the Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P30,000 or imprisonment of not less than 1 month nor more than 3 years, at the court's discretion. (Section 32)
• The Chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission shall include the implementation of this Act in the Commission's program and funding in the annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 33)
• The present Board shall continue to function until the new Board is constituted under this Act. (Section 34)
• The Board shall promulgate, adopt, and issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations, Code of Ethics, and Code of Technical Standards for Librarians, which shall take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. (Section 35)
• If any part of the Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, it shall not affect the other parts. (Section 36)
• Republic Act No. 6966 is repealed, and all other laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations, ordinances, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly. (Section 37)
• The Act shall take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper of general circulation. (Section 38)