lecture presented by Fe Angela M. Verzosa at ALAP’s Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in the Digital Age, held on May 25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo, Laguna

1. Opportunities for
Professional Growth
by Fe Angela M. Verzosa
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

2. growing into that image
projecting an image
What kind of a librarian are you?
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

3. Why Professional Growth
“The librarian is an active intermediary
between users and resources.
Professional and continuing education of
the librarian is indispensable to ensure
adequate services.”
IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994
<http://www.ifla.org/VII/s8/unesco/eng.htm>
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

4. Why Professional Growth
“Librarians shall strive to improve, enhance, and
upgrade their professional knowledge, skills, and
competencies through formal and informal means.”
“Librarians shall endeavor to uphold the highest
standards in the practice of the profession. They
shall adopt and live by this motto: C A N I - Constant
and Never-ending Improvement of the quality and
standards of professional services.”
CODE OF ETHICS FOR LIBRARIANS
BFL Resolution No. _06_
Series of 2006
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

5. Why Professional Growth
 Librarians commit themselves to professional
excellence through continued learning
 Professionals commit themselves to a program
of continual growth
 Librarians commit themselves-organizationally
and individually-to lifelong learning and a
culture of learning
 professional development of librarians is a
shared responsibility
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

6. Creating a Culture of Learning
Creating a culture
of learning can
help improve the
sharing of
knowledge and
skills
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

7. Why Professional Growth
 Librarians commit themselves to professional
excellence through continued learning
 Professionals commit themselves to a program
of continual growth
 Librarians commit themselves-organizationally
and individually-to lifelong learning and a
culture of learning
 professional development of librarians is a
shared responsibility
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

8. Shared by whom?
 Board for Librarians
 Library schools
 Employing agencies or
institutions
 Professional
associations
 Peers
 Librarians
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

9. To reassert ourselves as a profession of
knowledgeable information finding experts, we
must take full advantage of all
opportunities for continuing education.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

10. Continuing Professional Education
CPE is “Education that
takes place once
professional qualification
is achieved, with the
intent of maintaining
competence and/or
learning new skills”
Cited from: Weingand, D. E. (1999,).
Describing the elephant: what is
continuing professional education.
IFLA Journal, 26(3), 198-202.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

11. Continuing Professional Education
“The shelf life of a degree is
approximately three years
and declining. Maintaining
competence and learning
new skills must be at the top
of every professional’s “To Do” list.
It is an ethical responsibility, to
be sure, but also one that is pragmatic and
critical for career success. … Continuing professional
education is no longer an option, it is a requirement
of professional practice.”
Cited from: Weingand, D. E. ibid.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

12. Best practices/principles
 CPE needs require regular assessment.
 CPE providers should offer a broad range of
learning opportunities in a choice of formats that are
designed to meet identified needs.
 Development of guidelines is necessary to ensure
quality CPE activities.
 There must be consistent documentation and
recognition of participation in CPE activities.
 It is imperative to conduct research/further studies
to examine the outcomes of continuing education
and staff development programs.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

13. Assessment of training needs
 Surveys are helpful in determining wants
and perceived needs, if not actual needs
 Job performance appraisal serves as
guide to developing a CPE plan or
program
 Focus groups held with representatives of
various stakeholders can give a more in-
depth picture of needs.
 Research and studies can develop
assessment tools.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

14. Best practices/principles
 CPE needs require regular assessment.
 CPE providers should offer a broad range of
learning opportunities in a choice of formats that are
designed to meet identified needs.
 Development of guidelines is necessary to ensure quality
.
 There must be consistent documentation and
recognition of participation in CPE activities.
 It is imperative to conduct research/further studies
to examine the outcomes of continuing education
and staff development programs.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

15. Why should guidelines focus on
quality in CPE?
 CPE program falls
short of expectations.
 CPE program does
not respond to
learning needs.
 CPE program is
poorly designed and
delivered.
 CPE program is not
“job-embedded.”
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

16. Best practices/principles
 CPE needs require regular assessment.
 CPE providers should offer a broad range of
learning opportunities in a choice of formats that are
designed to meet identified needs.
 Development of guidelines is necessary to ensure
quality CPE activities.
 There must be consistent documentation and
recognition of participation in CPE activities.
 It is imperative to conduct research/further studies
to examine the outcomes of continuing education
and staff development programs.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

17. To reassert ourselves as a profession of
knowledgeable information finding experts, we
must take full advantage of all
opportunities for continuing education.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

18. What opportunities?
What resources are available for professional growth?
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

19. Resources for professional growth
 Professional associations provide avenues for
learning, interaction, professional exchange…
 Institutional resources offer support –i.e. tuition-
waiver, grants, time-off, incentives for funding to
encourage attendance to seminars, trainings,
active involvement in professional associations,
distance education, online education, etc.
 Library resources – in the form of on the job
training, skills enhancement, job rotation, cross-
training, mentorship, peer-coaching,
self-directed learning and online learning
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

20. Self-directed learning
Self-directed learning is
simply defined as
learning that is “informal,
self-initiated,
independently
conducted, and
integrated into
individuals’ daily work”
Cited from: Varlejs, J. (1996). Librarians' self-directed continuing
professional learning. Ph.D. dissertation, The University of
Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

21. Online (Distance) Learning
 customized formal
instruction (credit-based)
 online tutorials
 learning modules (workshop
type)
 webinars
 PLNs - Personal Learning
Network is a self-paced
online program offering
online mentoring and
support
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

22. Seminars/conferences
Professional meetings
What are the avenues that librarians must take
in order to develop professionally ?
Self-directed learning On-the-job training
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

23. Avenues for professional development
Aside from:
Conferences
Workshops
Professional meetings
Self-directed learning
On-the-job Training
Internships/
Internship/apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

24. Other opportunities….
 Credit Courses
 Summer Institutes
 listservs
 networking
 professional visits
 study tours
 library visits
 teaching/
mentoring
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

25. Library Grants
http://paarl.wikispaces.com/Grants
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

26. How to keep current…
Aside from
attending workshops,
conferences and seminars
joining listservs,
enrolling in formal classes,
and networking, You should
 read professional literature
 do research
 stay active in professional
organizations
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

27. Issues in professional development
(suggestions for future discussion)
 Career planning – basic issues
 Impact of future needs/expectations of
our customers or the market change in
professional training of librarians
 Impact of librarian’s work change over
the next 5 years? Ten years? Twenty
years?
 Impact of librarians’ professional growth
on the profession’s mission to preserve
and enhance library practices
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

28. Career Planning – basic questions
 Is your job your career? If not,
 Where are you in your career and in your life?
 What are your life goals, wants, interests, choices, skills?
 Where do you foresee yourself to be in the future?
 What are your career options now?
 What knowledge and skills do you need to attain your
goal?
 How do you plan to attain your knowledge and skills?
Is your plan realistic? Are there obstacles? Setbacks?
 How far is your commitment to attaining your goal? Is it
a priority? Personal priority or professional priority?
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

29. Parting words…..
 “Librarianship” isn’t a job—it’s a vocation. It’s not
something you can put away at the end of the
day, when you leave the building.
 Topher Lawton, blogger
 We want to define a librarian outside of a degree
or a license that certifies we are information
professionals. We want to tell the world what a
librarian is, not merely by what we do now, or by
the degree we hold, but by WHY we do what we
do.
 Me
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

30. Questions?
famverzosa@yahoo.com
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)

31. Please Remix/Reuse/Share!
This presentation may be used for your library or
organization without further request from the author. Please
feel free to use it in whole or in part, incorporate it into
another presentation, quote from it, snag the images, etc. A
citation to this presentation with a nod to the original author,
Fe Angela M. Verzosa, would be greatly appreciated.
Seminar on “Evolving Practices in Professional Development and Knowledge Sharing in
the Digital Age” (May 23-25, 2012 at Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City, Laguna)