UP School of Library and Information Studies

The School of Library and Information Studies 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.

The SLIS is situated at the South Wing, 3rd Floor, Gonzalez Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Academic programs

Starting in 1995, the School offered the Bachelor in Library and Information Science. The program aims to "prepare students for career opportunities in professional librarianship, research, training, publishing and book trade, public relations, consultancy, and information-related business." [http://www.upd.edu.ph/~ils/AcadProg.htm The Academic Program] . UP Institute of Library and Information Science Web-site.] This program replaced the Bachelor in 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 offered a Master in Library Science Program, the first in the country, and has since been updated as Master in Library and Information Science.

Aside from the undergraduate and graduate programs, the School also offers a one year program in librarianship and conducts review courses and simulation exams for the Licensure Examination for Librarians.

History

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 under 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 to the Post-Graduate Training Course for Science Information Specialists in Southeast Asia. In 2002, the Institute was renamed into the Institute of Library and Information Science in order to keep up with the new, accepted 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. Graduates from the institute consistently top and register the highest passing rates (93% out of the 30% National Average in 2005 [http://www.inq7.net/exam/lib11082005.pdf Results of the 2005 Licensure Examination for Librarians] . Inquirer News Service.] , 95% in 2006 [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/examresults/20061204_lib_12042006.pdf Results of the 2006 Licensure Examination for Librarians] . Inquirer News Service.] and 98% in 2007 [http://www.up.edu.ph/uppost.php?i=3277& UP SLIS graduates garner 5 out of ten top places in librarians' licensure examination] . UP Post] .) in the Licensure Examination for Librarians. On March 27, 2007, the Board of Regents approved the Institute's petition to rename itself as the School of Library and Information Studies. [http://upilis.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=2 UP ILIS is now UP School of Library and Information Studies] . UPILIS.org]

Journal

SLIS publishes the "Journal of Philippine Librarianship," the only academic journal in the field in the Philippines.

Organizations

*UP School of Library and Information Studies Student Council
* [http://flipp.atspace.org/ UP Future Library and Information Professionals of the Philippines]
* [http://uplissa.org UP Library and Information Science Students Association]
* [http://www.uplsaa-online.org/ UP Library Science Alumni Association]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/upsl/ UP School of Library and Information Studies Chorale]

See also

*University of the Philippines
*University of the Philippines, Diliman

Notes and External links

* [http://upslis.info/ UP School of Library and Information Science]
* [http://upslis.info/page.php?4 UP School of Library and Information Science Library]
* [http://www.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/ The University Library (UP Diliman)]
* [http://upslis.suprglu.com/ UP SLIS Blog Network]
* [http://upslis.multiply.com/ UP SLIS Multiply Group]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/upslis/ UP SLIS Flickr Group Photo Pool]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/uplissa/ UP LISSA Flickr Group Photo Pool]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/uplsaa/ UP LSAA Flickr Group Photo Pool]