The School of Library and Information Studies of the University of the Philippines or UP SLIS is the oldest library school in the Philippines. Formally established in March 1961 as the Institute of Library Science, it can trace it roots to 1914, making it one of the first library schools in Asia. It is an independent degree-granting unit of the University of the Philippines Diliman, and offers programs in the field of library and information science. In December 2015, the Commission on Higher Education declared the school as the first and only Center of Excellence among universities and colleges with library and information programs in the Philippines.[2]
Paaralan ng Aralin sa Aklatan at Impormasyon | |
 | |
Former names | Institute of Library Science (1961 - 2002) Institute of Library and Information Science (2002 - 2007) |
|---|---|
| Type | Degree-granting unit of the University of the Philippines |
| Established | 1961 |
| Dean | Prof. Rhea Rowena U. Apolinario |
| College Secretary | Prof. Mark Anthony A. Santos |
Academic staff | 14 full-time,[1] 26 part-time |
Administrative staff | 6 administration, 3 librarians[1] |
| Location | Quirino Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City 14°39′09.7″N 121°04′16.2″E / 14.652694°N 121.071167°E |
| Colours | Lemon, Maroon, Green |
| Affiliations | International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions |
| Website | slis |
 | |
The School was formerly situated in Gonzalez Hall, where the UP Diliman Main Library is located. Constructed in the 1950s almost simultaneously with the arts and sciences, administration and engineering buildings, the Main Library was one of the first structures in the Diliman campus, designed by Juan Nakpil, the campus architect of that time. The building was later named Gonzalez Hall, in honor of the former UP President Bienvenido M. Gonzalez. It was purposely fashioned after the administration building, now known as Quezon Hall, just like how the arts and letters and engineering buildings were mirror images of each other.[3]
UP SLIS was situated in the South Wing on the 3rd Floor of the Gonzalez Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. In May 2019, the School started vacating Gonzalez Hall. The School currently has its own building on Quirino Avenue, the old Zoology Building which was formerly occupied by the Institute of Biology.
Academics edit
Starting in 1995, the School offered the Bachelor of Library and Information Science. The program aims to prepare students for career opportunities in professional librarianship, publishing and book trade, and information-related business[4]. This program replaced the Bachelor of Library Science. A new curriculum introduced in 2002 integrated the University's Revised General Education Program and offered several specialization tracks, including archives and records management, health and medical librarianship, information systems, and law librarianship. Since 1962, the then Institute has offered a Master of Library Science program, the first in the country, and has since been updated to Master of Library and Information Science.
The School also commenced offering its Master of Archives and Records Management this AY 2022-2023.[5]
Degree programs edit
- Bachelor of Library and Information Science
- Master of Library and Information Science
BLIS and MLIS specialization tracks:- Information Systems and Technology
- Archives and Records Management
- Medical Librarianship
- Law Librarianship
- General Librarianship
- Master of Archives and Records Management
- Diploma in Librarianship
Diploma program concentration areas:
History edit
The school can trace its roots back to 1914, thirty years after Melvil Dewey established the first School of Library Economy in Columbia College. Library courses were offered in the College of Liberal Arts under James Alexander Robertson, UP's first library science professor. This made the University the first library school in the Philippines and one of the first in Asia. The first full library studies program was offered two years later, in 1916.
In March 1961, the Institute of Library Science was formally established, and a year later, the institute established its graduate program. From 1978 to 1984, the Institute was selected by UNESCO as the host institution for the Postgraduate Training Course for Science Information Specialists in Southeast Asia. In 2002, the Institute was renamed "Institute of Library and Information Science" in order to keep up with the nomenclature for the field. This required the institute to set up the first IT Applications Lab and Computer Lab for a library school in the Philippines. On March 27, 2007, the Board of Regents approved the Institute's petition to rename itself as the School of Library and Information Studies.
Limited space requirements and dilapidated conditions of the prior location of the UP SLIS on the third floor of the Gonzalez Hall prompted the School to launch a building fund to raise funds for the construction or renovation of a building for the transfer of its physical facilities in April 2007. Currently, it has reserved the Institute of Biology building as the future site for any such transfer. The building was chosen due to its proximity to the Main Library, which serves as the laboratory for its students.[6]
Graduates from the school consistently top and register the highest passing rates (93% passing rate out of the 30% National Average in 2005,[7][8] 95% in 2006[8][9] and 98% in 2007,[8][10] 85% in 2008,[11][12] 96% in 2009[13][14] and 97% in 2010[14][15]) in the Licensure Examination for Librarians. From 2014 up to the present, UP SLIS has been a top-performing school, achieving a 100% passing rate in the said examinations.
UP SLIS Performance in the Librarian Licensure Examination, 2014-present
| Examination Date | UP SLIS Passing Rate (Passed/Total Examinees) | National Passing Rate (Passed/Total Examinees) |
|---|---|---|
| April 2014 | 100% (8/8) | 27.95% (149/533) [16] |
| April 2015 | 100% (25/25) | 47.04% (349/742) [17] |
| September 2016 | 100% (50/50) | 64.74% (738/1140) [18] |
| September 2017 | 100% (27/27) | 60.29% (545/904) [19] |
| September 2018 | 100% (26/26) | 49.00% (466/951) [20] |
| September 2019 | 100% (36/36) | 55.18% (565/1024) [21] |
| September 2021 | 100% (10/10) | 47.68% (113/237) [22] |
| September 2022 | 100% (12/12) | 39.43% (250/634) [23] |
| September 2023 | 100% (21/21) | 62.64% (555/886) [24] |
Heads edit
Heads of the UP School of Library and Information Studies
| Head | Designation | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Consuelo Damaso | Acting Director | 1961-1964 |
| Grace Fabella Bulaong | Officer in Charge | 1964-1965 |
| Mae Furbeyre | Officer in Charge | 1965-1967 |
| Ruby Kelly-Mangahas | Director | 1967-1969 |
| Clarisa Dimalanta | Director | 1969-1970 |
| Ursula Picache | Director | 1970-1984 |
| Rosa Vallejo | Dean | 1984-1994 |
| Herminia Santos | Dean | 1994-1997 |
| Josephine Sison | Dean | 1997-2003 |
| Maria Divina Pascua-Cruz | Dean | 2003-2005 |
| Rosalie Faderon | Dean | 2005-2008 |
| Vyva Victoria Aguirre | Dean | 2008-2010 |
| Johann Frederick Cabbab | Dean | 2010-2014 |
| Kathleen Lourdes Obille | Dean | 2014-2020 |
| Mary Grace Golfo-Barcelona | Dean | 2020-2023 |
| Rhea Rowena Apolinario | Dean | 2023-present |
Faculty of Instruction edit
The UP SLIS is the only LIS school in the country with a full-time faculty complement. It has 14 full-time faculty members.[25] The school is also supported by 26 part-time lecturers.
Publications edit
The UP SLIS publishes the Philippine Journal of Librarianship and Information Studies[26] (formerly the Journal of Philippine Librarianship), the only academic journal in the area of library and information science in the country. Aside from scholastic and thematic articles, it also publishes abstracts to graduate and undergraduate theses submitted to the school. In 2008, it started limited publication of its print version and has since been made available through the University of the Philippines Diliman Journals Online portal.
The School also publishes the information sheet SLIS Newsletter (available online through the official website) and its library produces guides, updates and current awareness services.
Organizations edit
- UP Archons
- UP Bibliotech
- UP Future Library and Information Professionals of the Philippines
- UP Library and Information Science Students Association
- UP Library Science Alumni Association
- UP School of Library and Information Studies Chorale
- UP School of Library and Information Studies Student Council
Notes edit
- ^ a b As of Academic Year 2019-2020
- ^ "UPSLIS Declared CHED Center of Excellence". School of Library and Information Studies. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ Quilaneta, Thinette Joy. "The Heart of UP Diliman". www.heritage.org.ph. Heritage Conservation Society. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ "Academic Programs". School of Library and Information Studies. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ "Study With Us". UP School of Library and Information Studies. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ UPSLIS Building Fund Updates. UPLSAA Newsletter May-Oct 2009.
- ^ Results of the 2005 Licensure Examination for Librarians. Inquirer News Service.
- ^ a b c Top Performing School (with ten or more examinees that has at least 80% passing percentage).
- ^ Results of the 2006 Licensure Examination for Librarians. Inquirer News Service.
- ^ UP SLIS graduates garner 5 out of ten top places in librarians' licensure examination. UP Post
- ^ 237 pass Librarian Licensure Examination. ABS-CBNNews.com
- ^ Second top Performing School (with ten or more examinees that has at least 80% passing percentage).
- ^ November 2009 Librarian Licensure Examination results released in two (2) days. Professional Regulation Commission Website.
- ^ a b Only top Performing School (with ten or more examinees that has at least 80% passing percentage). [1]
- ^ November 2010 Librarian Licensure Examination results released in two (2) days
- ^ April 2014 Librarian Licensure Examination results released in three (3) working days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ April 2015 Librarian Licensure Examination results released in three (3) working days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2016 Librarian Licensure Examination results released in three (3) working days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2017 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released In Two (2) Working Days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2018 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released in two (2) working days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2019 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released in Three (3) Working Days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2021 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released in Two (2) Working Days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2022 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released in Three (3) Working Days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ September 2023 Librarian Licensure Examination Results Released in Three (3) Working Days. Professional Regulation Commission.
- ^ "Faculty of Instruction". School of Library and Information Studies. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ "Philippine Journal of Librarianship and Information Studies". phjlis.org. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
External links edit
