From Practice to Praxis: Transcending Practice-Oriented Librarianship in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003 (RA 9246) lays down the parameters of the practice. This serves as the guiding principle for the education, qualification, and regulation of librarianship. The professionalization of librarianship affirmed the librarians’ roles in schools, higher education institutions, public and special libraries, as well as other institutions and agencies that deal with documents and records. It is commendable that various agencies involved in the education and training of librarians have taken initiatives to move the profession beyond its practical and skill-based orientation. Adding more research courses allows students to develop the necessary skills from conceptualization, theorizing, data gathering, data analysis, and writing, so that they can become more confident in conducting various types of research. The inclusion of philosophy, critical theory, and ethics should develop not only managers of information systems but ethical, critical, and socially conscious professionals who are open to diverse ideas, who can question assumptions, unmask social inequalities, and advocate for marginalized communities. Designing continuing education programs that integrate practical, theoretical, and critical aspects should also be done to foster well-rounded professionals. With
these efforts, the dichotomized image of a librarian in the Philippines will eventually be dismantled.