Good News : Increasing Demand for Librarians in the Philippines

The Department of Education (DepEd) Standards for Philippine Libraries, signed in April 2010, emphasized that for every 500 students, a school must employ one licensed librarian and one library support staff. This policy was a significant step toward strengthening school libraries, aiming to ensure that students have access to well-organized, effectively managed libraries that contribute to their academic success.

However, many schools continue to neglect this standard, falling short of employing the required number of librarians. This raises serious concerns, as library professionals play a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience by providing students and faculty with access to information resources and support. Organizations not adhering to this standard should indeed feel a sense of responsibility and shame, particularly as the Philippine Librarians Association Inc. (PLAI) should actively advocate for the strict implementation of these standards, ensuring that librarians receive their rightful place within schools.

By 2018, despite advancements in education policies, many schools still failed to recognize the true value of having librarians on their staff. It's more than just assisting with the library period—librarians bring a wide array of skills and services that significantly benefit the academic and administrative functions of schools.

Here are some of the key benefits of hiring more than one librarian in a school setting:

1. Budgeting and Managing Acquisitions: Librarians are skilled in selecting, acquiring, and budgeting for books, electronic resources, and materials that align with the school's curriculum.

2. Specialized Library Activities: Librarians can organize reading programs, literacy campaigns, and other library activities that engage students and promote a love of reading.

3. Supporting Outreach: Librarians help extend the library’s reach by collaborating with other schools, local government units, and community organizations, encouraging a broader exchange of knowledge.

4. Substitute Teachers: Trained librarians can substitute for teachers when necessary, especially for subjects like information literacy, reading comprehension, or research skills.

5. Advanced Library Orientation: They provide detailed orientations and training to students and faculty on using library resources effectively, including research databases and digital tools.

6. Support for School Activities and Projects: Librarians offer administrative and research support for school-wide activities such as contests, debates, exhibitions, and publications.

7. Substitute Administrators: In some cases, librarians may assist in or temporarily take on administrative roles, thanks to their organizational skills.

8. Basic Research Assistance: Librarians are adept at helping students and teachers conduct research, whether for academic assignments or larger projects.

9. Liaison with Academic Departments: They work with teachers to align library services with classroom instruction and collaborate with external organizations to enrich library resources.

10. IT Support: With their technical expertise, librarians often assist with IT-related challenges in managing digital resources or databases.

11. Resource Speakers for Information Literacy: Librarians can deliver talks or workshops on essential topics such as research methodologies, evaluating sources, and navigating digital information.

Beyond school settings, librarians possess valuable skills that are in demand in private companies and government organizations, where Library and Information Science (LIS) graduates often fill roles such as:

• Document controller
• Information resource specialist
• Secretary
• Research assistant
• Statistical report monitoring

Their expertise makes them valuable not only for traditional library roles but also in office administration and customer service, contributing to efficient information management in diverse professional settings.

In conclusion, librarians are indispensable not only for the smooth operation of school libraries but also for contributing to the broader academic and administrative success of educational institutions. The policy set by DepEd is clear, and it’s time that all schools in the Philippines fully comply, recognizing the immense value of hiring licensed librarians.