University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Studies


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 the universities and colleges with library and information programs in the Philippines.

Gonzalez Hall

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 campus’ main library was later named Gonzalez Hall, in homage 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.
UP-SLIS was situated at the South Wing, 3rd Floor, of the Gonzalez Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. In May 2019, the school started vacating the building for renovations. The school is now located at the old Zoology Building of the university.

Academics

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. 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 offered a Master of Library Science program, the first in the country, and has since been updated as Master of 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.

Degree programs

BLIS and MLIS specialization tracks:
Diploma program concentration areas:
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 Postgraduate 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 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 current location of the UP-SLIS at 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.
Graduates from the school consistently top and register the highest passing rates in the Licensure Examination for Librarians.

Heads

Heads of the UP School of Library and Information Studies
HeadDesignationTenure
Consuelo DamasoActing Director1961-1964
Grace Fabella BulaongOfficer in Charge1964-1965
Mae FurbeyreOfficer in Charge1965-1967
Ruby Kelly-MangahasDirector1967-1969
Clarisa DimalantaDirector1969-1970
Ursula PicacheDirector1970-1984
Rosa VallejoDean1984-1994
Herminia SantosDean1994-1997
Josephine SisonDean1997-2003
Maria Divina Pascua-CruzDean2003-2005
Rosalie FaderonDean2005-2008
Vyva Victoria AguirreDean2008-2010
Johann Frederick CabbabDean2010-2014
Kathleen Lourdes ObilleDean2014–2020
Mary Grace Golfo-BarcelonaDean2020-Present

Faculty of Instruction

The UP-SLIS is the only library school in the country with a full-time faculty complement. It has 14 full-time faculty members. The school is also supported by 26 part-time lecturers.

Publications

The UP-SLIS publishes the Journal of Philippine Librarianship, the only academic journal in all fields 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 publishes the information sheet SLIS Newsletter and its library produces guides, updates and current awareness services.

Organizations