Cybercrime Law, Freedom of Information, and Free Internet Access: Their Implications to Libraries

By Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatatyo, RL

Libraries have always been about giving people access to the knowledge they need to take on the world. Through promoting literacy, innovation, and creativity, they empower users to discover new perspectives for themselves, find better jobs, and generate new ideas. These are the foundations of a strong society (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 2018).

 

CYBERCRIME LAW

Libraries play a very significant role in battling against cybercrime. I believe that we are already acquainted of this delinquency because it is so conspicuous nowadays and there is a lot of cases relevant to this matter. As librarians, we should serve as armaments of our users against cybercrime. We must educate them about how important it is to use the internet, the web, and the social media as platforms for learning and doing rewarding activities.

It is really a sad fact that more and more people commit cyber crimes such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cyber warfare, child pornography, extortion, fraud, hacking, identity theft, phishing, phreaking, ransomware, spamming, theft and embezzlement, creating and sharing computer virus, and many more. According to the news, cases of cybercrime in the Philippines continue to spike and soar! A student in Bago City, Negros Occidental even ended his life because of cyberbullying.  It is very terrifying to know that there are now countless cases about cybercrime and the effects of it really destroy lives. It is true that the internet is now a haven for criminals and anarchic individuals.

Some would blame the technology because they think that it is the root of this form of evil. I think it is not appropriate to put the blame on the technology, the internet, and other technological advancements because I strongly believe that it’s the irresponsible, unethical, and lawless people who are malevolent and are not afraid to destroy lives are the ones who need to pay the price! Good thing there is now a law here in the Philippines against cybercrime. It is the Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. It’s an act defining cybercrime, providing for the prevention, investigation, suppression, and the imposition of penalties therefor and for other purposes. I strongly believe that as librarians, we should really familiarize this law so that we can inform our patrons about this rampant problem which our society is facing right now. We should start it within ourselves so that we can harmoniously apply it when we serve our dear clients in the library.

In our libraries, we provide computer units and internet connection for educational and research purposes but there are users who go beyond the limits. Our library patrons expect to have a safe computing milieu. We, librarians, should be knowledgeable about this matter and must educate our users about its disadvantages. To be specific, here are some of the ways that libraries can do to prevent cybercrime:

·Execute regular anti-malware and anti-virus scanning

·Install firewalls

·Prohibit users from downloading and uploading inappropriate contents

·Intensify data and information security

·Educate the users on safe browsing, protecting and strengthening passwords, and other secured internet navigation techniques

·Monitor the usage of WiFi

Students nowadays are already expert in hacking, creating a computer virus, and doing illegal activities that harm people. For us librarians, it is really a concern because we are information professionals and one of our responsibilities is to provide the right information to them. It is now the time for us to meddle and take charge to help solve this problem because if we don’t, the world will not become a better place to live in.

As librarians, we have the role for nation building and empowerment. We should stand and fight against this widespread crime. Moreover, let us be more aware of the latest trends in cybersecurity and be more keen in educating our users on how to secure their information. I strongly believe that we have the power to save more lives if we heartily educate our patrons. Most importantly, we should make them realize that it is necessary to think first before clicking.

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI)

We, the sovereign Filipino people have the ultimate right to know everything associated with our government. We have the freedom to keep an eye on the different involvements related to our regime and its members. According to the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act aims to mandate the disclosure of public documents. It also outlines the exceptions for public disclosure and the procedures for accessing public documents.

In the library setting, as librarians, we need to empower transparency. This FOI is very applicable in our libraries since we have the freedom to know every information we want. However, we should also understand that censorship is necessary for our libraries because not all kinds of information are allowed to be accessed and retrieved. When your users are children or young adults, you can’t let them access restricted sites that contain pornographic, obscene, or violent types of information. There are many things to consider and as librarians, we should really understand this freedom of information and reflect on what is its impact on our libraries especially to our users.

This freedom of information is a manifestation that every Filipino has the right to know what is happening in our government right now. I strongly believe that when there’s transparency, everything will go smoothly and we can avoid conflict. Like in libraries, our patrons demand fairness and truthfulness and they should be provided with the right information they need when they go to the library. I think that in the library, freedom should be practiced because our valued patrons have the right to avail the services and utilize the resources of the library harmoniously. If the librarian isn’t fervent enough to serve them just like helping them retrieve the information they need, then the librarian is not genuinely and professionally doing its role.

Generally, greater access to information empowers citizens to hold their public officials accountable and to participate in government processes that are being opened to them by the administration. The same goes with the library because if the users can access sufficient amount of information, they can be the best that they can always be and they can make a difference in every endeavor they will have in their lives.

 

FREE INTERNET ACCESS

This is somewhat relevant to the anti-cybercrime law because what happens on the internet are now covered by the law that prevents us from doing cybercrimes. As what I have said, cybercrime is an endemic problem we are facing today. Illegal activities are not only happening in the real world. For the criminals or evildoers, the Internet is their gateway to commit crimes and harm other people.

In our libraries, we only want what’s best for our clients, that’s why we always make sure that we provide everything they need for them to access and retrieve the information they want in the easiest and fastest way. The internet is indeed a magnificent instrument for them to do things related to their studies and researches. Our libraries provide free internet access because we are now in the modern world and not all kinds of information are present in the physical formats stored in the library such as books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and many more. We can now access as fast as we can the information we want with the help of computers and the internet.

However, not all people are responsible enough. There are individuals who use the internet in doing unnecessary things like watching pornography, cyberbullying, creating troubles using social media, and many more. I believe that we, librarians should make some policies and rules about internet access in the library. I am more favored if we limit the purpose of the internet in the library like we should only allow them to use it for educational and research purposes only. We should monitor our users because we never know what harmful things that will happen to them if we will just let them do the things that they want. We should guide them and educate them that everything will be alright if we use the internet for good.

 Indeed, the Internet is the largest library in the world but the librarians are the best navigators who can help you safely explore the ocean of information and accurately catch the right fishes!

MORE ABOUT THE FOI: Question and Answer Portion (From the Official Gazette of the Philippines)

Who can ask for information?

Every Filipino citizen.

To whom can we ask for information?

All government agencies (specifically defined under section 3 of the proposed bill).

What information will be made available?

All information pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as government research data used as a basis for policy development, regardless of its physical form or format.

What information will remain classified?

• Information specifically authorized to be kept the secret under guidelines established by an executive order, and properly classified.
• The records of minutes and advice given and opinions expressed during decision-making or policy formulation, invoked by the Chief Executive to be privileged by reason of the sensitivity.
• Information pertaining to internal and/or external defense, law enforcement, and border control.
• Drafts of orders, resolutions, decisions, memoranda, or audit reports by any executive, administrative, regulatory, constitutional, judicial, or quasi-judicial body.
• Information obtained by any committee of either house of Congress in executive session.
• Personal information of a natural person other than the requesting party.
• Information pertaining to trade secrets and commercial or financial information that would seriously prejudice industrial, financial, or commercial competition.
• Information classified as privileged communications in legal proceedings by law or by the Rules of Court.
• Information exempted by law or the Constitution.

What are the advantages of this bill compared to the prior bills filed in Congress?

• This proposed bill expands access to financial information, such as SALNs of government officials, and access to other kinds of information, such as transactions by incorporating a provision making the posting/publication mandatory.
• The public is spared the tedious work of trying to access certain information from different agencies when the information is made available in one portal, the Official Gazette website (www.officialgazette.gov.ph) being the official publication for the following information:

– Important legislative acts and resolutions of a public nature of the Congress of the Philippines;
– Executive and administrative orders and proclamations of general application;
– Decisions or abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals or other courts of similar rank, as may be deemed of sufficient importance to be so published;
– Such documents or classes of documents as the President shall determine to have general application.

• The bill asks government agencies to translate key information into major Filipino languages and present them in popular form and means. 
• All government agencies are required to prepare a Freedom of Information Manual that will contain details and procedures and serve as a guide on the matter.
• The bill integrates open data provisions, which mandates a regular and pro-active release of government data in open and machine-readable formats.

Procedure of access

1.     Request

Submit a request to the government agency concerned either personally, by mail, or through electronic means.

2.     Receiving

The request will be stamped by the government agency, indicating the date, time, and other details of receipt. In case the request is submitted by electronic means, the government agency shall provide for an equivalent means by which the requirements shall be met.

3.     Waiting time

The government agency shall comply with such a request as soon as practicable, and in any case within 15 working days from receipt. The period may be extended for specific cases.

4.     Notification

The government agency shall, in writing or through electronic means, notify the person making the request of the extension, the reasons for the extension, and the date the information will be made available (no more than 20 working days).

5.     Grant and Payment

Once a decision is made to grant the request, the person making the request shall be notified of such and pay the required access and processing fees.

What will happen if my request is not granted?

• The government agency shall notify the person making the request of such denial in writing or through electronic means within 15 working days from the receipt of the request.
• The notice shall clearly set forth the ground for denial and the circumstances on which the denial is based. Failure to notify shall be deemed a denial of the request for access to information.
• Following the proper procedure, denial of a request for access to information may be appealed to the head of the agency, then Ombudsman, then a verified petition for mandamus may be filed in the proper court.
• The Judiciary shall, however, will be governed by such remedies as promulgated by the Supreme Court.

Is the Admin Bill a watered down version of the previously filed bills in Congress?

• No. The Admin Bill, in fact, expanded the list of mandatory information for disclosure, provided a specific procedure for access, stated the exemptions in a very clear and transparent manner, and directed that the exemptions are to be strictly construed.

What is the status of FOI?

• Now that the FOI has been approved on the committee level in both the Senate and House, the bill will be taken up in plenary.

How does FOI relate to the other governance reforms under the Aquino Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Plan 2012-2016?

• Greater access to information will, in general, empower citizens to hold their public officials accountable and to participate in government processes that are being opened to them by this administration. For instance, greater access to information on government projects through open governance initiatives such as Open Data Philippines will allow civil society organizations to make more meaningful and accurate inputs to the Participatory Budget and Participatory Audit processes that this administration has initiated. The mandatory posting of SALNs will also empower our government investigators and their citizen-partners to run after corrupt officials.

Sources

(1) Senate Bill No. 1733

(2) House Bill No. 3237

(3) 1987 Constitution

(4) Proposed bill – FOI Act of 2013

Reordering Ranganathan: A Scrutiny

By: Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, RL

Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User Behaviors, Shifting Priorities by Ixchel M. Faniel and Lynn Silipigni Connaway is a report that focuses on the reorganization and reinterpretation of Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science to adapt on today's library resources and services, as well as the attitudes that people exhibit when engaging with them.

Although the authors strongly believe that the Ranganathan's five laws are still significant today, their foremost desire is to help develop both the work done by librarians and the discernment of libraries and librarians. By altering how we think about the five laws in terms of elucidation and order of relevance, the authors hope to reflect the current resources and services available for use and the behaviors that people show when engaging with them.

The goal of this publication is to offer a sensible and pertinent framework for Ranganathan’s laws that today’s librarians, library researchers, and information scientists can refer to as they think about making modifications in practice and evolving programs for future research endeavors. This sounds critical but I think that the modified laws will work!

The changes are the following:

1.      The ultimate definition of "books are for use" is absolutely about access. But, the authors’ understanding focuses on augmenting the corporal and procedural infrastructure required to provide materials or resources.

My Reaction: I really agree with them that it must start within the organization. If the library itself is weak, there is a big possibility that the quality of resources and services it provides is also weak. I think that it is best for the library to formulate realistic and understandable procedures and policies that would enlighten and assist users in the utilization of the library materials and services. I strongly believe that it is an edge if an organization would apply for an ISO 9001:2015 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) if it wants to have quality assurance when it comes to quality management systems.   

In the process of applying for the said certification, like any department in an organization, the library will be required to prepare a documented procedures manual for every function/activity that the library conducts. The ISO auditor/s will strictly scrutinize and criticize the documented procedures manual if the processes are really accurately observed and practiced. For example, in the circulation process, there must be a clear flow of activities that the library follows to ensure the efficacy of the book borrowing. In general, the objective of this certification is to ensure that all resources and services in the library are controlled and monitored to guarantee 100 percent quality assurance.

Without a doubt, if the library processes are standardized, the utilization of library resources like book borrowing will surely be easier for the library patrons and the accessibility will be augmented. I firmly believe that the satisfaction of the users is a manifestation of reliability and productivity of the library.

2.      It is now necessary to “know your community and its needs.” It is the authors’ interpretation of "every person his or her book."

My Reaction: Of course, in order for us, librarians, to determine the needs of our community, we always do assessments. I think that it is very effective to collaborate with the teaching faculty because they have subject expertise and they are very familiar with the academic programs they handle. I believe that they are important catalysts especially when we do collection evaluation and mapping. In this way, we can also educate our faculty about the importance of the library in providing the right materials to the right users at the right place and at the right time.

3.      The authors’ interpretation of "every book its reader" directs on expanding the access, discoverability, and utilization of resources within users’ current workflows

My Reaction: I think that it is related to the second law but it mainly focuses on the item itself. The authors suggest that in order for the users to appreciate the usefulness of the library materials, libraries must escalate access, discoverability, and the utilization of these resources based on the users’ current workflows.

I strongly believe that the libraries nowadays must be user-centered. In the report of Merrilee Proffitt, James Michalko and Melissa Renspie which is entitled, “Shaping the Library to the Life of the User: Adapting, Empowering, Partnering, Engaging,” it is highlighted there that:

  

• Users increasingly have choices outside the library, and those choices are both networked and social.
• It is far too easy to make incorrect assumptions about users’ needs and motives. Mixed methodologies, including practices based in ethnography and design, help libraries to better understand their constituents and to make wise choices.
• Libraries need to adapt, empower, partner and engage in order to successfully shape their future services around users' needs.

The User-centered design is a term commonly associated with web development and online environments. I really believe that we, librarians need to widen our horizon and intensify understanding about the users’ experiences. We should change our paradigms and must start thinking that it is not all about us anymore, it is all about our library clienteles.

4.      The modern or the 21st-century library users dare librarians to move from the traditional assertion of "save the time of the reader." According to the authors, in order to meet today's users' wants and needs, it is a must to embed library systems and services into their current workflows.

My Reaction: I agree with the authors that it is very important for librarians to make use of the available Information Technology (IT) facilities and tools that could improve the services and resources of the library. I know that it’s a cliché for me to say this but IT really makes our works easier and faster. We can now utilize the Integrated Library Management Systems (ILMS) which enables to automate our library functions like cataloging, acquisition, and circulation. Furthermore, there is now an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) for us to quickly retrieve the materials we want to borrow or access. There is a lot of systems out there which really saves the time of the librarians and the library users.

5.      The authors strongly agree that "a library is a growing organism" and recommend developing users' share of responsiveness.

My Reaction: I also have my stance on this law. I believe that in order for the library to grow, it must wholeheartedly embrace Information Technology and it must have librarians who are fervent for positive change.

As I have mentioned, librarianship isn't easy. This profession is absolutely puzzling. There is a lot of things to learn, keys to unlock, a labyrinth to pass, and mysteries to solve. However, your experiences and the people around you are your best teachers and they are always there to help you to become an effective and efficient librarian. You just need to be open-minded. You must be willing to empty your cup. The library is a growing organism, that's why I strongly believe that a librarian, along with the library itself, must also grow.

Lastly, it is very important to educate and inspire our users about their relevance as key players in the success of the library. It is also necessary to understand what they feel and what they want. Their opinions also matter. They know something that we don't and it's great to work with them for the amelioration of the library. Let us grow and evolve together!

Other Variants:

Librarian, Michael Gorman (past president of the American Library Association, 2005–2006), and Walt Crawford recommended the following laws in addition to Ranganathan's five in Future Libraries: Dreams, Madness, and Realities [American Library Association, 1995], (p. 8) Gorman later repeated them in his small book, Our Singular Strengths [American Library Association, 1998]. B. Shadrach (Indian Public Library Movement, 2015) proposed an alternative to Ranganathan's five laws at the Indian Public Libraries Conference, 2015 in New Delhi.

1.      Libraries serve humanity.

2.      Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated.

3.      Use technology intelligently to enhance service.

4.      Protect free access to knowledge.

5.      Honor the past and create the future.

In 2004, librarian, Alireza Noruzi recommended applying Ranganathan's laws to the Web in his paper, "Application of Ranganathan's Laws to the Web":

1.      Web resources are for use.

2.      Every user has his or her web resource.

3.      Every web resource its user.

4.      Save the time of the user.

5.      The Web is a growing organism

In 2008, librarian, Carol Simpson recommended that editing must be done to Ranganathan's law due to media richness. The following were:

1.      Media are for use.

2.      Every patron his information.

3.      Every medium its user.

4.      Save the time of the patron.

5.      The library is a growing organism

In 2015, B. Shadrach proposed an alternative set of laws adopted from Dr. S R Ranganathan:

1.      Knowledge is for use in ‘all’ forms

2.      Every citizen has the right to access ‘all’ knowledge in 'all' forms

3.      Every piece of knowledge is for access by ‘all’ without discrimination of any kind

4.      Save the time of ‘all’ of the knowledge seekers

5.      A library or a knowledge system is one that evolves with time to achieve all of the above laws

In 2016, Dr. Achala Munigal recommended that editing be done to Ranganathan's law due to the introduction of Social Tools and their applications in Libraries

1.      Social Media is for use – increasingly in libraries by librarians

2.      Every user his/her Social Tool

3.      Every Social Tool its user

4.   Save the time of user by providing information he/she seeks using the social tool he/she is familiar with.

5.      Social Media is a growing organism. With various tools and apps being introduced every day. Libraries are not brick and stone anymore. They serve members and non-members alike in terms of non-traditional library services; irrespective of space and time.

References:

Connaway, L. S. & Faniel, I. M. (2014). Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User

Behaviors, Shifting Priorities. Retrieved last December 10, 2018 from https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/publications/library/2014/oclcresearch-reordering-ranganathan-2014.pdf.

Noruzi, A. (2004). Application of Ranganathan's Laws to the Web. Retrieved last December 10,

2018 from http://www.webology.org/2004/v1n2/a8.html

Pundsack, K. (2016). Retrieved last December 10, 2018 from

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2016/02/is-your-library-user-centered/

USC Marshall. (2018). Dr. S.R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science. Retrieved last

December 10, 2018 from https://librarysciencedegree.usc.edu/blog/dr-s-r-ranganathans-five-laws-of-library-science/

A Case Analysis: For This, We Get a Master's Degree?

by: Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, RL 

I.                    Summary of the Decision Situation

Handgrove College Library has five librarians (the director, head of the reference department, and three reference librarians) and nonprofessionals (circulation staff and catalogers). The library, I think, has enough number of library personnel to cater to the information needs of the students, since there are already four reference librarians. However, in the Philippine setting, all accrediting agencies require all academic libraries to have a sufficient number of library personnel to render effective and efficient services to their users. With that, a very effective planning should be considered in order for the Handgrove College Library to really determine if it will be compulsory to hire additional librarians or other library staff.

It is very critical because librarians nowadays should be expected to be knowledgeable about Information Technology and other computer-related matters but we can’t deny the fact that there are some who can’t cope up with the trends because there are also who can’t handle it intellectually and there are also librarians who want to practice the conventional aspects because they think that it is better to stay inside their comfort zones. However, we should also look into the fact that Information Technology professionals or computer experts are badly needed currently because they are more adept in that field, and, as librarians, we can’t just rely on our own knowledge and expertise. I strongly believe that it is really necessary to work with them so that in this digital age, our libraries can reach their goals in providing the right information at the right time and in the right place.

II.               Problem Identification

The problem is actually very complex. The library director, Joan Cloud, is really in the middle of a labyrinth where it is really hard to devise a plan and formulate a solution. The problem here is that her subordinates confessed to her that why is it that they always do the tasks that are not on their job descriptions since they are reference librarians. Why is it that they have to be the ones to look after the technology when it malfunctions? It is really a pain to them why they should be the ones to work when there’s a failure with technology and when other related glitches occur. The concern of the reference librarians also is that why not assign another person to do the job? They are really firm to their belief that they should not be the ones to handle those unnecessary (as what they think) tasks.

Another problem also is that the director of the library is very grumpy and it seems that she is not open-minded. Joan is very bossy and what she wants should be followed. With that, her subordinates are likely not happy with her attitude. She’s an autocratic leader and that I think is what her subordinates think of her.

When it comes to Joan’s side, she was so disappointed it’s because her subordinates team up to raise their concern so Joan misinterprets it and consider it as mutiny. I think she’s a bit anxious because her underlings are in consensus and Joan, as the director, consider it as insubordination.

III.            Identification of Alternatives, Analysis, and Recommendations

In this millennium, libraries and information centers play a very important role in providing effective and efficient library and information services to the clientele. The technology and automation are rising and their demands to the libraries are also increasing. Libraries should now embrace the power and goodness offered by these instruments in order to have fruitful and successful library operations. With these, librarians or information professionals should also strive and do their very best to cope up with the trends.

Moreover, according to the Florida State University Library, the ultimate roles of librarians and information scientists is to help people locate, use, and understand information. Also, Library and information professionals work in some of the most diverse and fascinating professional fields available today. Our graduates are employed in a wide variety of disciplines involving the design, implementation, and use of online information systems. They are engaged in the business of helping other people locate, use and understand the information they need for daily living and decision making. The current emphasis on the information sector of our economy makes this an exciting field of study.

The solution to the problem is easy. They should organize their human resources in the library and establish a more structured organizational tree. According to PAARL, one approach is to provide titles that recognize the diversity of positions such as Information Assistants, Media Technicians, Cataloging Technicians, Readers Assistants, Encoders, Indexers, etc. Another approach is to provide categories such as Library Aide, Library Assistant, Librarian I, II, and so on. All positions in the library should be established and organized as part of a career service. Every library should have a written workforces’ policy with position descriptions, as well as the educational requirements for each position. The only concern for this solution is that, will it be necessary to do this? Doing this would touch other apprehensions like financial aspects, hiring new employees, and other related factors. It will be very risky.

Since the total population of students is not mentioned, it is not appropriate for me to emphasize what should be the standard number of librarians and library staff to be hired. However, according to the PAARL’s requirements for academic libraries, the library shall have an adequate number and variety of staff to develop, organize and maintain the collection and provide information and reference service to meet the needs of its clientele. The size and qualifications of staff shall be determined by several factors, including size and scope of the collection, number of hours, the rate of acquisition, the rate of circulation, nature of processing and nature of service demand.

The ratio of licensed librarians and other staff vary depending upon the range of operations and services provided by the library and upon its total workload requirements.

For the first 1,000 students or a fraction thereof:	One (1) full-time librarian and one (1) full-time clerical staff
For every additional 2,000 or a fraction thereof:	One (1) additional full-time librarian and one (1) full time clerical or support staff

            American Library Association (ALA) accentuates that the library personnel should be professionally competent, diverse, and empowered, and responsible for enhancing and maintaining the library’s IT set-up keep current with library technology applications and participate in ongoing training and seminars. In that matter, the reference librarians can also play the roles of the IT professionals since the Library and Information Science program comprises IT subjects as well. The librarians should be expert at least about the basic IT functions and processes in the library like turning and off of computer units, printing, handling minor computer glitches, encoding, inputting records in the database, word processing, and other basic IT tasks.

            We all know that in today’s era, librarians are expected to be information savvy and they should learn to apply information technology to their profession. However, not all librarians are capable of learning quickly and not all are eager to learn, so it is very necessary to empower all librarians and educate them how important to marry information technology for the betterment of their profession.

            Furthermore, Joan should really call the attention of her subordinates and they must come up to a possible solution to their problem. For me, it would be better if they will hire an Information Technology (IT) Specialist/Technicians because:

a.      As reference librarians, they have a lot of tasks and responsibilities to handle like reference interviews, answer queries (personal, online, email, through phone calls, or real-time), handling current awareness services, reference roving, library instruction and orientation, maintaining reference materials, reprographic services, and many more.

b.      Now if they will handle technology-related bugs, there will be a big possibility that most of their important tasks will be affected or compromised.

c.      Not all librarians are very skillful when it comes to IT and some of them know only the basics. When it comes to the advanced functions, it will be very impossible for the librarians to handle those because their knowledge is only limited when it comes to IT.

d.      IT specialists/technicians are more skilled in their field and the librarians should only work harmoniously with them.

Even though librarians are expected to be skilled in all areas and must have diverse talents, doing tasks like reprographic services, printing, and other simple tasks can be done by paraprofessionals or non-librarians, that’s why the title of this case study is “for this we get a master’s degree?” because it only manifests that librarians should handle what are the things they are expert of and not on the things they are not familiar with. Though these tasks are simple, it will be a slap to the librarians if they will do it, because they went to school for how many years and earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree, not for these tasks. It is somewhat shameful to them if they do these tasks.

According to Kotter (1995), “transformation is impossible unless people are willing to help, often to the point of making short-term sacrifices. Employees will not make sacrifices if they are happy with the status quo unless they believe that useful change is possible.”

In an organization, not all of its people will embrace changes. When changes occur, some of them resist accepting those because for them, it will serve as a threat and they think it would be better to be in their comfort zones. Joan is very resistant to change that’s why she wants to retain the current status that the library has now. If she’s a fruitful leader, she would see to it that it is really necessary to hire additional employee/s since it is the nature of an academic library to be diversified. Unlike school libraries, academic libraries deal with various services and processes and it is very relevant to have human resources who have the expertise to handle those specialties.

In my previous workplace, Southern Christian College, they have different positions there like Director of Libraries, Elementary School and Media Center Librarian, Junior High School Librarian, Senior High School Librarian, Information and Readers Services Librarian, Circulations Librarian, Periodical Services Librarian, Cataloger, Research Services Librarian, Information Technology Specialist. All are expert to their designated area. They handle specialized responsibilities. There are also student library assistants who do the basic tasks in the library like assisting the librarians, housekeeping, assisting the patrons, shelving, shelf-reading, and many more. I can notice that the flow of services in the library is going so smooth because all of them are doing their part by performing what is required to them. I strongly believe that if the Handgrove College Library will follow and apply this structure, it will be easier for them to solve the problem.

Moreover, planning is the best remedy to ease their burden. A good decision-making would be very effective.  Joan together with her pack should really see to it if there’s really a need to hire another library personnel because according to their situation, I think that it is really necessary. I really believe that in this modern era, information technology is badly needed and the processes of every library are now influenced by IT, that’s why librarians should work well with IT professionals. All of them must agree and must come to a consensus because the success of the organization relies on everybody’s hands. However, they should also consider the financial constraints because if they hire another person to do the job, they will now prepare a budget for that.

 Indeed, librarians should be knowledgeable about IT and other things related to reprographic services but there are more important responsibilities than doing these highly technical and critical kinds of stuff. Their main tasks are information storage and retrieval, knowledge management and organization, and not executing advanced IT related tasks and doing simple responsibilities like photocopying, printing, and repairing machines. For this, we get a master's degree?

My recommendations are the following:

·      Effective planning and decision making are really needed if there’s really a need to hire another staff. Everyone’s suggestions and participation are needed.

·        Hire additional personnel like IT specialist or computer technician.

·        Consider hiring student library assistants.

·        Write a letter to the administration expressing your concern about that matter.

·        Explain to them how necessary to hire an additional workforce.

·        If there’s no budget for hiring another employee, it would be better to send your librarians to series of training and seminars for them to be more equipped with the vital knowledge and skills on Information Technology and aspects which are related to the services of the library.

·        Since the library is providing reprographic services such as photocopying, printing, lamination, and others, it is also good to send her colleagues to series of training and seminars about these services so that if problems occur like paper jams, they can initially and basically find ways to solve them.

·        Joan can also encourage her subordinates to earn a degree or units in Library and Information Technology or Master in Information Technology. If they want to work happily with technology in the library, she should consider enrolling her colleagues in the Library and Information Technology (LIT) program at Central Carolina College or any college or university that offers LIT courses or programs.

·        For Joan, she needs to open up her mind to her colleagues because not all the time she’s correct. She also needs to ask the opinions and hear the sides of her subordinates so that everything will go smoothly without conflict and complications.