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This page features the full text of
Republic Act No. 6966
"Philippine
Librarianship Act"
AN
ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND PRESCRIBING THE
QUALIFICATIONS
OF LIBRARIANS.
REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 6966AN
ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND PRESCRIBING THE
QUALIFICATIONS
OF LIBRARIANS.
ARTICLE
I
TITLE
Section
1. Title. — This Act shall be
known as the "Philippine Librarianship Act."
chan
robles virtual law library
Sec.
2. Definition of Terms. — (a)
Librarian — A librarian is a bona fide holder of a certificate of
registration
issued by the Board for Librarians in accordance with this Act.chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(b) Scope
of the practice of librarianship — The practice of librarianship shall
constitute in holding out oneself as skilled in the knowledge, art and
science of the organization, dissemination, preservation and
conservation
of recorded information; the rendering, furnishing and contracting of
professional
services such as consultations and advice on the organization and
management
of libraries, data banks, research and information centers to clients
on
a fee basis or otherwise; the teaching of subjects in the library and
information
sciences; and the signing or authenticating for clients of documents or
reports when called for.chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(c) Board
— It shall refer to the Board for Librarians.cralaw:red
ARTICLE
II
ORGANIZATION
OF THE BOARD FOR LIBRARIANS
Sec.
3. Creation and Composition of
the Board. — Within sixty (60) days after this Act takes effect, there
shall be created a Board for Librarians to be composed of a Chairman
and
two (2) members who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines
upon recommendation of the Professional Regulation Commission from
among
certified librarians of recognized standing in the Philippines
representing
the academic, public and special libraries as may be certified by the
Philippine
Librarians Association, Inc. and possessing the qualifications
prescribed
under Section 4 of this Act: Provided, That the members of the first
Board
for Librarians appointed under this Act shall each be considered
certified
for the purpose thereof, and shall, upon payment of fees prescribed
under
the revised rates of the examination, registration and other fees, be
issued
a certificate of registration in accordance with the provisions of this
Act.
chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Sec.
4. Qualifications of Board Members.
— Each member of the Board must, at the time of his appointment,
possess
the following qualifications:
(a) A
citizen and resident of the Philippines; (b) Of
good reputation and moral character;
(c) A
holder of baccalaureate degree in Library Science, Information science,
or Documentation;
(d) At
least forty (40) years of age;
(e) A
registered professional under the Board for Librarians; and chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(f) Had
been in active practice for at least ten (10) years, five (5) years of
which is in a managerial position, and none of the following
disqualifications:
(1) A
member of the faculty of any university, college, school or any
institution
conferring the academic degree or certificate for the practice of
librarianship,
or offering review classes for librarianship licensure examination, or
one who has pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any such
institution;
and (2) An
incumbent officer of the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
5. Functions and Duties of the
Board. — The Board shall have the following functions and duties;
(a) To
administer and promulgate rules and regulations necessary for carrying
out the provisions of this Act in accordance with the charter of the
Professional
Regulation Commission;chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred(b) To
administer oaths in connection with the administration of this
Act;
(c) To
adopt an official seal of the Board;
(d) To
issue, suspend or revoke the certificate of registration for the
practice
of librarianship;
(e) To
look into the conditions affecting the practice of librarianship in the
Philippines and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be
deemed
proper for the maintenance of the good standard and ethics of the
profession
of librarianship;
(f) To
establish policies and standards for all types of libraries and the
education
and practice of librarianship in the Philippines;
(g) To
ensure that all educational institutions offering library science
degree
comply with the essential requirements for curriculum, faculty, and
facilities
for the library science degree;
(h) To
investigate such violations of this Act or of the rules and regulations
issued thereunder as it may come to the knowledge of the Board and, for
this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the
appearance of witnesses and the production of documents in connection
therewith;
(i) The
Board shall set ethical and professional standards for the practice of
librarianship in the Philippines. Such ethical standards, rules and
regulations
shall take effect three (3) months after publication in the Official
Gazette
in any newspaper of general circulation; and
(j) To
discharge such other powers and duties as the Board may deem necessary
for the practice of librarianship and the continued growth and
development
of libraries and library education in the Philippines.
Sec.
6. Term of Office. — The Chairman
and the members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3)
years from the date they assume office, regardless of the nature of
their
appointment: Provided, That the first appointees to the Board under
this
Act shall hold office on the following terms: one (1) member shall
serve
for one (1) year; one (1) member for two (2) years; and one (1) member
for three (3) years. Vacancies shall be served for the unexpired term
only.
No person who has served for two (2) successive terms shall be eligible
for reappointment until after the lapse of one (1) year. Appointment to
fill an unexpired term is not to be considered as a complete term. They
shall take oath before assuming office.
Sec.
7. Executive Officer and Secretary
of the Board. — The Commissioner of the Professional Regulation
Commission
shall be the Executive Officer of the Board and shall conduct the
examination
given by it. The Secretary of the Professional Regulation Commission
shall
act as Secretary of the Board. All the records of the Board including
examination
papers, minutes of deliberation, and records of administrative
proceedings
and investigations shall be kept by the Professional Regulation
Commission
under the direct custody of the Secretary.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
8. Compensation of the Board.
— The Chairman and the members of the Board shall each receive as
compensation
per diems as determined by the Professional Regulation Commission for
every
Board meeting, the sum of twenty pesos (P20.00) for each applicant
examined,
and the sum of Ten pesos (P10.00) for every applicant granted a
certificate
of registration as librarian without examination. Any librarian in the
service of the Republic of the Philippines appointed as member of the
Board
shall also receive compensation herein provided.cralaw:red
Sec.
9. Removal of a Board Member.
— Any member of the Board may be removed by the President of the
Philippines
upon the recommendation of the Professional Regulation Commission for
neglect
of duty, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or
dishonorable
conduct for commission or toleration of irregularities in the
examination,
after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper
administrative
investigation. chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Sec.
10. Annual Report. — The Board,
through the Professional Regulation Commission, shall submit at the end
of each fiscal year an annual accomplishment report to the President of
the Philippines and to Congress, including therein a detailed account
of
the proceedings of the Board during the year and embodying such
recommendations
as the Board may desire to take.
ARTICLE
III
EXAMINATION
AND CERTIFICATION
Sec.
11. Inhibition Against the Practice
of Librarianship. — Unless exempt from registration, no person shall
practice
or offer to practice librarianship in the Philippines or be appointed
as
a librarian to any position calling for a librarian and documentalist
or
information specialist working in a library, without having previously
obtained a certificate of registration from the Board.
Sec.
12. Examination Required. — Except
as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all
applicants for certification as librarians shall be required to undergo
a written examination which shall be given annually in such places and
dates as the Board may determine.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
13. Qualifications of Applicants.
— In order to be admitted to the examination for librarians, an
applicant
must, at the time of filing of application thereof, meet the following
qualifications:
(a) A
citizen of the Philippines;
(b) At
least twenty (20) years of age;
(c) In
good health and of good moral character; and
(d) A
graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the
government,
with any of the following degrees:
(1) Bachelor
of Library Science or Information Science; (2) Bachelor
of Science in Library Science or Information Science;chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(3) Bachelor
of Science in Education major/specialization in Library Science, or
Bachelor
of Arts major in Library Science;
(4) Master
of Library Science or Information Science; and
(5) Master
of Arts in Library Science.
Sec.
14. Scope of Examination. — The
examination for librarianship shall consist of Category A, General
Information
Test and Category B, Professional Test consisting of: (1) selection and
acquisition of library materials; (2) cataloguing and classification;
(3)
indexing and abstracting; (4) reference, bibliography and information
services;
(5) organization and management of libraries and information centers;
(6)
information technology; and (7) such other subjects which the Board may
deem necessary.chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Sec.
15. Report of the Results of
Examination. — The Board shall, within ninety (90) days after the
examination,
report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Professional
Regulation
Commission for approval and/or appropriate action.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
16. Repeaters. — A candidate
who falls in three (3) successive Board examination shall be
disqualified
from taking the fourth examination unless he submits evidence to the
Board
that he has taken a refresher course from a duly accredited school or
its
equivalent as determined by the Board.cralaw:red
Sec.
17. Rules and Regulations. —
The Board shall adopt rules and regulations governing the examination
and
standards to be attained in them with the approval of the Professional
Regulation Commission.
Sec.
18. Registration and Exception.
— Upon application and payment of the required fees, certificates of
registration
as librarian shall be issued without the necessity of licensure
examination
to qualified applicants who, on the date of the approval of this Act
are:
(a) Librarian
and supervising librarian eligibles and are holders of a bachelor's
degree; chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred(b) First
grade eligibles, or their equivalent, and are holders of a bachelor's
degree
with at least eighteen (18) units in Library Science and at least (5)
years
of experience in librarianship; and
(c) First
grade eligibles, or their equivalent, and are holders of a Master's
Degree
in Library and/or Information Science. Provided, That they shall be
given
three (3) years from the organization of the Board for Librarians
within
which to register and be included in the roster of professionals.
Sec.
19. Issuance of Certification.
— Certificates of registration as librarian shall be issued to an
applicant
who passed the examination upon payment of the required fees. Every
certificate
of registration shall show the full name of the registrant and serial
number,
and shall bear the signatures of the members of the Board for
Librarians
and the Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission, and
duly
authenticated with the official seal of the Board.chanrobles virtual law library
The
issuance of certificate of registration by the Board shall be evidence
that the person named therein is entitled to practice librarianship in
the Philippines with all the rights and privileges appertaining
thereto. chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Sec.
20. Fees for Examination and
Registration. — Applicants for examination for librarians shall pay an
examination fee of Two hundred pesos (200.00). Successful applicants
shall
pay a registration fee of One hundred fifty pesos (150.00). All such
fees
shall be paid to the disbursing officer of the Professional Regulation
Commission, and such officer shall pay from the receipts thereof all
the
authorized expenses of the Board, including the compensation of its
Chairman
and members.cralaw:red
Sec.
21. Revocation and Suspension
of Certificates. — The Board shall have the power after due notice and
hearing to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration of a
librarian
for any of the following causes: conviction by a court of competent
jurisdiction
of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude, unprofessional or
dishonorable
conduct, malpractice, incompetence, or serious ignorance or negligence
in the practice of librarianship; or for any fund, deceit or
falsification
in obtaining a certificate of registration.
Sec.
22. Reissuance of Revoked and
Replacement of Lost Certificate. — The Board may issue for reasons of
equity
and justice, upon proper application and submission of an affidavit of
loss, another copy of the certificate of registration upon payment of
the
fee prescribed by the Professional Regulation Commission.cralaw:red
A
new certificate of registration to replace any certificate lost,
destroyed,
or mutilated may be issued subject to the rules of the Board upon
payment
of Fifty pesos (P50.00).
Sec.
23. Certificate of Reciprocity.
— No foreign librarian shall be admitted to the examination, or be
given
a certificate of registration, or be entitled to any of the rights and
privileges under this Act unless the country or state of which he is a
subject or citizen permits Filipino librarians to practice within its
territorial
limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign
country
or state: Provided, That the requirements for certification of
librarians
in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as those
required
and contemplated under this Act: Provided, further, That the laws of
such
state or country grant the same privilege to Filipino librarians on the
same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or
country.cralaw:red
Sec.
24. Roster of Librarians. — A
roster of librarians containing the names and addresses of certified
librarians,
dates of registration or issuance of certificates, and other date which
in the opinion of the Board may appear pertinent. Copies of the roster
shall also be provided the National Library, the Philippine Librarians
Association, Inc. and the Civil Service Commission.
ARTICLE
IV
PROVISIONS
RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP
Sec.
25. Penal Provisions. — The following
shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos
(P500.00)
nor more than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) or imprisonment of not
less
than one (1) month nor more than two (2) years, or both at the
discretion
of the court:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
(a) Any
person who practices librarianship in the Philippines without being
certified
in accordance with the provision of this Act; (b) Any
person who represents or attempts to use as his own the certificate of
registration of another;
(c) Any
person who gives any false or fraudulent evidence of any kind to the
Board
or any member thereof in obtaining a certificate of registration as
librarian;
(d) Any
person who impersonates any registrant of the like or different
name; chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(e) Any
person who uses a revoked or suspended certificate of
registration;
(f) Any
person who, in connection with his name, otherwise assumes, uses, or
advertises
any title or description tending to convey or conveys the impression
that
he is a librarian without holding a valid certificates; and
(g) Any
person who violates any provisions of this Act. chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Sec.
26. Appropriation. — The savings
from any item of appropriations of the Professional Regulation
Commission
shall be utilized for the initial implementation of this Act.
Thereafter,
such amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
27. Separability Clause. — If,
for any reason, any section or provision of this Act or the application
of such section or provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, no other section or provision of this Act
shall be affected thereby.
Sec.
28. Repealing Clause. — All laws
and parts of laws which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.cralaw:red
Sec.
29. Transitory Provision. — All
incumbent librarians in both the public and private sector not
otherwise
certified as librarians by virtue of this Act shall be given six (6)
years
temporary certificates from the time the Board for Librarians is
organized
within to qualify as required of this Act and be included in the roster
of professionals.cralaw:red
Sec.
30. Effectivity. — This Act shall
take effect upon its approval. chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
Approved:
September 19, 1990
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