LIS122- Special/Public Libraries Public Libraries in the Philippines

1. An introduction
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
LIS 122 Special/Public Librarianship

2. The Public Library:
Its Objectives and
Mission

3. "The public library, the local gateway
to knowledge, provides a basic
condition for lifelong learning,
independent decision-making and
cultural development of the
individual and social groups."
INTRODUCTION
(IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, 1994)

4. PUBLIC LIBRARY
A public library is an organization established, supported, and
funded by the community, either through local, regional, or
national government or through some other form of
community organization.
It provides access to knowledge, information, and works of the
imagination through a range of resources and services.
It is equally available to all members of the community
regardless of race, nationality, age, gender, religion, language,
disability, economic and employment status, and educational
attainment.
IFLA

5. Roles/Purpose of
Public Libraries (IFLA)

6. Education - supporting both individual and self conducted
education as well as formal education at all levels.
Information - the public library is the local center of
information, making all kinds of knowledge and information
readily available to its users.
Personal development - providing opportunities for personal
creative growth.
Children and young people - creating and strengthening
reading habits in children from an early age.
Cultural development - an important role of the library is to
focus on cultural and artistic development in the community.
Social role - the public library has an important role as a public
space and meeting place.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7. The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, first issued in
1949, revised in cooperation with International Federation
of Library Associations (IFLA) and adopted in November
1994 has the following key missions of the public library.
The Manifesto is included in the Guidelines for Public
Libraries published in 1986 by IFLA which replaced the
Standards for Public Libraries published in 1977.
These missions relate to information, literacy, education,
and culture and should be the core of public library
services.

8. key missions of the public library
creating and strengthening
reading habits in children from
an early age
supporting both individual and
self-conducted education as
well as formal education at all
levels
providing opportunities for
personal creative development
stimulating the imagination and
creativity of children and young
people
promoting awareness of
cultural heritage, appreciation
of the arts, scientific
achievements, and innovations
providing access to cultural
expressions of all performing
arts
fostering inter-cultural
dialogue and favoring cultural
diversity
supporting the oral tradition
ensuring access to citizens to
all sorts of community
information
providing adequate information
services to local, enterprises,
association, and interest
groups
facilitating the development of
information and computer
literacy skills
supporting and participating in
literary activities and programs
for all age groups, and initiating
such activities if necessary.

9. The Public Research Group of
London and Home Counties Branch
of the Library Association of
United Kingdom set out in 1971 the
following objectives for the public
library services.

10. Education – to foster and provide means for the self-
development of the individual/group at whatever stage4
of education, closing the gap between the individual and
the recorded knowledge.
Information – to bring the individual/group accurate
information quickly and in-depth particularly on topics of
current concern.
Culture – be one of the principal centers of cultural life,
and promote a keener participation, enjoyment, and
appreciation of the arts.
Leisure – to play a part in encouraging a positive use of
leisure and providing materials for change and relaxation.
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2.
3.
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11. Historical
Development
of Philippine
Public
Libraries

12. TIMELINE
March 5, 1901
Public librarianship in this country started when the American
Circulating Library, established on March 9, 1900 by Charles Greenleaf,
with Nellie Young Egbert as its first librarian, was turned over to the
Insular Government through Act No. 96 and was placed under a Board of
Trustees.
September 6,
1901
Through Act No. 222, it became the American Circulating Library
Division of the Bureau of Education. Henceforth, several laws were
enacted relevant to the development of public libraries and The National
Library.
June 21, 1904
The first effort to establish a public library outside Manila with the
enactment of Act No. 1175, an Act Authorizing the Establishment of
a Circulating Library in the Province of Albay. No provision was given
for the implementation of the Act, thus the library did not materialize.

13. TIMELINE
1955 Albay Provincial Library was organized.
October 29,
1916.
Iloilo Provincial Library was the first to earn the distinction
of being the first regular provincial library established in the
Philippines
March 2000
Marked the centennial celebration of the public library system
in the Philippines. A nationwide search for Outstanding Public
Libraries was conducted. Fifteen (15) public libraries (three
provincial libraries, six city libraries, five municipal libraries, and
one regional library) were awarded.

14. Public
Libraries
Categorized

15. Public libraries are
categorized as follows
national regional congressional
district
provincial city municipal
barangay reading
centers

16. Laws/Policies
related to
Philippine Public
The following is a summary of
legislations related to public
librarianship.

17. Act No. 1849 – passed on June 3, 1908, this provided for the establishment of a public
library to be known as The Philippine Public Library, making suitable appropriations, and for
other purposes.
RA 411 – enacted in 1949 and authored by the late Senator Geronima Pecson. It is
considered the first legislation supporting the public library movement of the country,
calling for the establishment of 1,000 municipal libraries in the country for a five-year
period. Due to lack of provision for funding, the law was not implemented.
RA 7743 – another important legislation which was recently enacted into law on June 17,
1994. It is known as An Act Establishing Congressional District, City, and Municipal
Libraries and Barangay ReadingCenters throughout the country. Similar to RA 411, RA
7743 also had no provisions for funding. Although it lacks this very vital provision, there
had been a growing interest among local officials to establish public libraries through
information dissemination done by The National Library.

18. RA 3873 – this effected the change of the name of Bureau of Public Libraries to The
National Library. Passed on June 18, 1964.
Minimum Standards for Public Libraries – formulated by a Committee created by the
Public Libraries Association of the Philippines in 1988, as requested by the Philippine
Library Association. The standards have gone revisions to make it relevant with the time.
At present, the Board for Librarians has created a committee coming from the different
types of libraries to formulate minimum standards for each type of library.
RA 7356 – enacted in April 1992, this established the National Commission for the Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) which was mandated to develop, promote, and preserve Filipino
culture and arts through the coordination of policies in coordination with affiliated private
and public cultural agencies.

19. RA 8047 – known as the Book Publishing Act. Passed on 1996, the Act
resulted to a considerable increase in the total book production in the
country (from 1,500 titles in 1995 to 5,083 in 2000).
Executive Order No. 119 -known as the adoption of the National Book policy,
this was signed on July 4, 1999 in relation to passage of RA 8047.
RA 7160 – otherwise known as the Local Government Code. One of the
provisions of the law is the establishment of public libraries in the
municipalities. The law also puts the administrative supervision of public
libraries under the legislative branch of the local government, or its
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Panlungsod, or Bayan.

20. Civil Service Office Memorandum No. 99, s. 2001 – issued on July 18, 2001, this strictly
implements the provisions of RA 6966 specifically Sections 11 and 12 about Inhibition
Against the Practice of Librarianship. The memorandum signed by CSC Chairperson Karina
Constantino-David requires appointees to librarian positions eligibility, pursuant to RA 1080, in
addition to meeting other requirements for the position in terms of education, training, and
experience.
RA 6966 – Philippine Librarianship Act: Regulating the practice of Librarianship and prescribing
the qualifications of librarians. The law was passed on November 19, 1992.
RA 9246 – An Act Modernizing the Practice 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 approved on February 19, 2004.
RA 8392 – known as the Intellectual Property Code. Book IV of the Code is about Copyright
and Neighboring Rights which is implemented by The National Library.