2022 PAARL Library Standards

presented by
Fe Angela M. Verzosa
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
PAARL Standards
are designed to help academic libraries and their
parent institutions to formulate “policies which
describe shared values and principles of
performance for a library” (like ALA standards)

…adopted in the context of collections of

“best practices” or model documents for
academic libraries to use as helpful toolkits
and reference sources for assessment
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
• 1975-6 Study of the library resources initiated by BHE

• 1976 FAPE conducted the survey

• 1977 Tentative Library Standards for Private Higher Education

presented at PLA Convention in June

• 1988 PAARL took initiative of revising it with Ms. M.G. Dayrit

as Chair and presented for public hearings in October in
Iloilo and later in Manila

Final document was submitted to DECS

and became known as –
DECS Library Standards for Tertiary Education
– issued as Inclosure no. 3 to DECS Bulletin no. 1 s1988
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
1995 – 1998 PAARL conducted seminars to review
1988 Library Standards
1999 –2000 PAARL created a Task Force to revise
the 1988 Standards headed by Mrs. Loreto
Serina, and in 2000, under President
Fe Angela M. Verzosa
Four (4) Public hearings were conducted (3 in NCR,
and last in Cebu City)

Final document was submitted to BFL

at PAARL’s General Assembly in Jan 2001
and to CHED’s Office of Programs and Standards
in March 2001
 Why PAARL Library Standards?

..each library is unique, so in applying

standards, it is encouraged to consider new and
emerging issues and trends in accrediting practices. Because
of the impact brought about by this global pandemic affecting
all educational institutions everywhere, it is to be expected
that each library should rise above the standards.
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Scope
•  Should PAARL Standards apply to all types of
academic libraries – small college and
university libraries, technical institute
libraries, large academic libraries, research
universities?

•  If yes, should it be prescriptive

•  or comprehensive?
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Approach

•  Qualitative and quantitative

•  incorporating measurable inputs (money,
space, collection, equipment, staff size);
•  quantifying outputs or work done (books
circulated, reference queries answered,
formulating guidelines on technical standards for
bibliographic and other services rendered)
•  qualifying desired outcomes (formulating
best practices)
 2022 Standards for
Academic Libraries
1. More Output and Outcome-based statements
2. Inclusive of effective use of inputs to deliver the
intended outcomes
3. Reflective of what academic librarians do, why they do
it and how they know they are succeeding in doing what
Framework needs to be done
•  Retained 8 areas of assessment for:
- Vision-Mission, Goals and Objectives
- Administration
- Human Resources
- Financial Resources
- Collections
- Services and Utilization
- Facilities
- Linkages and Networking
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Significant Changes under Area on VMGO

1.3 In the process of defining and articulating its mission, the academic
library shall establish coherent goals. The underlying goal is to develop
and support information-literate users who can access and use
information effectively for academic success, research, and lifelong
learning. The attainment of such goals will be measured to determine
the extent to which they are deemed successful in fulfilling the library’s
mission.
1.4 The academic library shall set objectives and learning outcomes in a
clear and consistent manner appropriate to a particular level. Effective
mechanisms shall be observed to ensure that the library’s programs
meet those objectives and enable students to achieve intended
outcomes.
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Required Elements/provisions:
Area on - Organizational Set-up
- Head librarian appointed by the President
Administration - Advisory Committee called Library Board
- Policies and Procedures Manuals
- Annual Report
- Periodic Evaluation

Added provisions • Autonomy of the library

• Academic qualifications of head librarian
•  Faculty/academic status of head librarian
• Strategic planning/creation of
Development plan
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
•  College/University librarian
Significant Changes – shall have a master’s
Administration degree, preferably a Ph.D
•  And five (5) years of
•  The library, under its head or
director, should be managerial skills and
responsible for managing its experience
own affairs.
•  This autonomy, however, only
reinforces the library’s The administrative
responsibility to maintain
effective relationships with organization of the library
administration and faculty to
achieve its purposes. The shall keep abreast of
library should also adhere to international and local best
institutional protocols,
procedures, and practices as practices that adhere to the
they are stated by the
appropriate agencies within VMGO of the institution.
the institution.
 Area on Administration
Significant changes
2.4. Ethics and Social responsibility
The library shall inculcate the concept of corporate social responsibility
(CSR) as the parent institution does the same for all its stakeholders. The
ultimate purpose of CSR is to maximize shared values among the institution’s
shareholders, and the academic communities at large.

2.4.1. The head of the library shall uphold the Code of Ethics for Registered
Librarians, as promulgated by the Professional Regulation Commission’s
Regulatory Board for Librarians, and shall be guided by such principles as
fairness, equality, truthfulness, transparency, accountability and responsibility
towards the library staff, the library clients/users, the institution, peers and
colleagues, and society, in general, as well.
2.4.2. The library shall recognize its social responsibility not only to its academic
community, but also to its partners in linkages and the communities at large in
actively facilitating instruction, engaging in research, and pursuing the public
service mission of its parent institution.
2.4.3. The extent to which an organization accomplishes its social purpose is
its social utility. Thus, the library shall advance society in its task of educating
students and by supporting research activities that will improve society.
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Required Elements/provisions:
- Librarians should be licensed/registered
Human Resources - Minimum ratio of 1 professional + 1 staff per
1000 students is maintained
- Ratio of Librarians vis-à-vis support staff
- Continuing education
- Compensation, retirement, fringe benefits

Added provisions • Responsibilities should match

Educational competencies and experience
• Focus on career positions/salary schedules
• Written personnel policy
• Annual performance evaluation
• Mandatory staff development
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
The ratio of librarians to clerical and other
library staff depends on the range of
Significant Changes – operations and services provided by the
Human Resources library and upon its total workload
requirements. This will mean that the
number of full-time professional librarians
•  The library shall will comprise at least more than 35 % of the
encourage total full-time support staff.
professional staff
to do research by Professional librarians shall
providing for participate in research undertakings,
research actively engage in the work of
professional organizations, and may
incentives and be allowed to undertake consulting
awards for their and other professional tasks outside
of their regular work hours.
research outputs.
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Required Elements/provisions:
Financial Resources - Separate budget for the Library
- Library fees exclusive for collection growth
- Salary/wages of Library Personnel
- capital outlay for major improvements

• Library budget should be between 5-10%

Added provisions (or higher) of institutional total operating
budget
• Income generated by Library should be
retained by the library with internal control
• Library budget for media and computer
access
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
The library is expected to utilize its financial
Significant Changes – resources effectively and efficiently to
Financial Resources ensure that the requirements for
adequate staffing, improved collection
development, acquisition of appropriate
software and hardware, well-maintained
physical facilities, and delivery of quality
library services are met.

It is customary to separate capital outlay that will require a distinct budgetary

appropriation for major expenses such as new buildings, centralized air-conditioning,
renovations, library automation, and the like.
•  Adequate funds shall also be allocated by the institution for minor capital
investments such as maintenance, replacement and repairs, and for investments in
new and improved means of information access and delivery, as well as computer and
multimedia technologies.
•  The annual budget should support appropriate number and levels of staffing
based on the programs offered, buildings or wings established, and hours of service.
The library should appropriate adequate funds for staff compensation and benefits.
• 
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Collection Development provisions:
•  Collections support mission/goals
Collections •  Written collection policy
•  Involvement of academic community
Required Elements/provisions: in selection/acquisition
- Selection/Acquisition •  Relevant/updated selection tools
•  Periodic review of collections
- Collection management
Holdings
- Holdings
•  Support academic needs
- Organization and Care
•  Well-chosen/well-balanced
- Emphasis is on ACCESS, not OWNERSHIP •  Strong reference collection
- Emphasis is on quality not quantity •  Extensive Filipiniana collection
- Access to other collections not owned by the
•  CD-Rom and multimedia
library is encouraged
- Collections may be provided onsite, online, •  Reserve book per 20 students
off-campus, or in remote storage •  Periodic collection evaluation
•  Regular weeding program
 Scope of
Collection Management
•  Collection development is the joint
responsibility of the teaching faculty and
the librarian.
•  There shall be a year-round, and carefully
1- Selection planned program of selecting and procuring
library materials. The emphasis is on
quality rather than quantity.
•  The library shall develop a written
Collection Development Policy. This
document shall guide the selection and
acquisition of materials.
•  The faculty shall participate in the selection
of print and non-print materials
especially in their area of discipline.
 Scope of
Collection Management
The collection shall consist of quality, authoritative, up-to-
date and relevant resources that support the library’s
mission to meet the curricular, institutional, research, and
recreational needs of the clientele, over and above the
existing government minimum initial collection.
2- Holdings The library collection may come in a variety of formats,
including books, journals, unpublished materials, in print or
hard copy, online or in electronic text or images, and other
media formats that are non-print resources such
as audio-visual resources, photographic and
sound materials. Other educational materials may
include research databases, open educational
resources, open access resources, and online
information available from the internet. These
electronic resources will provide alternative
options to complement the library users’ needs
and requirements.
 Scope of
Collection Management
•  Refers to the cataloging and
classification of materials according to
an accepted standard of bibliographic
3 – Organization and description.
care of materials •  The library shall provide its own cataloging
manual of policies and procedures.
•  The library shall have a program for the
care and preservation of its own
collection. It should have adequate
safeguards against damage, loss,
mutilation and theft.
•  The library should have a counter-
disaster plan to include both damage,
prevention, and recovery.
 Significant Changes –
Collections
•  In general, the collection shall consist of quality,
authoritative, up-to- date relevant resources which
may be provided onsite or from remote storage
locations, on the main campus and /or all off-
campus locations.
•  The collection may come in a variety of formats,
including books, journals, unpublished materials,
in print or hard copy, online or in electronic text
or images, and other media formats that are non-
print resources.
•  There is a core collection of books, 5,000 well selected
books for college libraries and 10,000 titles for university
libraries, in various formats.
 Significant Changes –
Collections

•  An initial core periodical collection of current and

relevant (local and foreign) shall also be provided
based on enrollment from a minimum of 50 (below
1000 students) to 100 titles (for a population of
3,000 and above).

•  An additional 3 peer-reviewed professional titles

shall be added for every undergraduate degree
offering, and 6 professional peer-reviewed or
refereed journals for every graduate degree
program.
 Significant Changes –
Collections

•  In addition to the core book collection, a minimum

of five (5) professional titles per student shall be
provided. Recognition should be given to changes
in curricular offerings, and an increase in the
number of titles for new academic programs.
•  The provision of textbooks is not the responsibility
of the library but a minimum of five (5) copies of
frequently used titles shall be provided.
•  In the matter of reserve books, a provision of at least
one copy for every twenty-five (25) students is
deemed efficient.
 Significant Changes –
Collections
5.3.9 A searchable electronic database of the theses/
dissertations/publications and other intellectual
outputs, both published and unpublished, of the
graduates and faculty of the parent institution, shall be
developed and made accessible by the library to the
academic community.
As far as budget permits,
Subscription (or access the recommended ratio of
through a consortial/ volumes to combined total
interlibrary arrangement) to student population and
electronic databases of teaching faculty
scholarly journals, is should be 10:1.
deemed necessary to
complement the above annual growth rate of the collection
requirements. shall be maintained at five percent
 Standards for
Academic Libraries
Services and Utilization
Required Elements/provisions:
- Reference service beyond library
hours (7/24 online access)
- Orientation program (hands-on,
tutorials, in-depth instruction)
- Services of librarians (one-on-
one assistance)
- Open-Shelf system
- Emphasis on user participation
and feedback
- Sharing of bibliographic data
6.7.2 Librarians shall collaborate
frequently with classroom faculty on
the integration of Information
Literacy in curriculum planning, as
well as in information literacy
instruction-transfer to Life-Long
Learning.
6.3.3 The library should ensure optimal
access to its own collections by
adopting an open-shelf system for its
onsite users, and shall provide
continuous access to electronic
resources, such as online databases, e-
books, e-journals and other e- learning
resources to allow faculty members and
students to undertake research and
other academic activities beyond
regular service hours.
 Significant Changes –
Services and Utilization

6.6 Collaboration and Partnership with Faculty

6.6.1 The head of the library through the library committee
(council or board) should have coordination with the faculty
members in promoting effective use of library resources to
support learning, teaching and research.
6.6.2 Librarians shall collaborate with faculty members on
curriculum design and development.
6.6.3 Librarians shall collaborate with faculty members in their
research projects as evidenced in their institutional research
outputs
 Significant Changes –
Services and Utilization

• 
6.10 Extension Services

•  6.10.1 Where academic programs in the graduate level,

are offered away from campus, library services shall be
provided for off-campus/extension students. A separate
graduate library where library resources and services for
off-campus graduate students are to be made available
may be established as a branch library.
•  6.10.2 Noncampus/extension students should have
access to library resources and assistance in library use
as is normally available to campus students.
 Physical Facilities
Essential provisions:
• Accessibility of library/director’s office and strategic location
• Space requirement allows rearrangement/future expansion
• Reading room can accommodate 10% of user population
• Space provision for special services such as exhibits, displays and
photocopying facilities
• Provisions for reading comfort and quiet reading
• Control and security measures in place

7.1.5 The design of the space and facilities shall be socially

inclusive and welcoming to provide ease and comfort to users.
(“Socially inclusive” means regardless of status, gender, race, etc)

7.1.6 The library is a safe and secure environment and has

mechanisms in place designed to minimize or avoid safety and
security issues.
 Significant Changes -
Physical Facilities
7.2.5 Storage for supplies, equipment, and inactive files and
collections shall be provided, whether onsite or offsite.
7.2.6 Space allocation planning is required for future
acquisitions of library materials and equipment, and in
anticipation of future expansion.
7.3.1 Appropriate, adequate, and ergonomically-designed
library furniture shall be provided. This may include but not
limited to reading tables, carrels, chairs, shelves and
librarian’s workstations.
7.3.2 Furnishings, furniture and fixtures shall be flexible and
reconfigurable to allow rearrangement and expansion in the
future.
 Linkages and Networking
8.1 The Library exists within a
The library should strive,
as far as possible, to enhance
information access through
networking and linkages, and
online information services.
network of relationships
extending beyond the institution.
In cooperation with other
libraries, consortia, networks,
vendors, and other agencies, the
library should participate in
programs that will assist it in
meeting its goals and are
consistent with the mission of
the university, such as:

*Interlibrary loan activities and document-delivery

*Coordinated/cooperative collection development activities
*consortium-based subscription to electronic databases
*shared e-book initiative
*information and referral services, including bibliographic data sharing
 Linkages and Networking -
Significant changes
•  The Library and its staff shall get involved in linkages, professional
collaborative activities (regional, national and international),
community outreach programs, and other external relations with
partner institutions, funding agencies, and affiliated organizations, in
order to increase its reputational effectiveness and to demonstrate its
value to the academic communities of learners. Such active
involvement may take the form of:
•  8.2.1 Research and publication (as author, editor, referee or reviewer
of articles, books or reports)
•  8.2.2 Conferences (as paper presenter)
•  8.2.3 Conference management (as organizer or resource speaker)
•  8.2.4 Professional associations (by serving as officer, committee
member, volunteer, etc.)
•  8.2.5 Active engagement in community initiatives
•  8.2.6 Leadership and professional development (through the conduct
of technical seminars, training workshops, staff exchanges, etc.)
 Thank you!

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