Accreditation in Response to the Challenges of Networked Libraries for Quality Collections and Improved Services

Dr. Leticia A. Cansancion Philippine Womens College, Davao City August 15, 2008

The World is divided into three classes of people.

The first category comprises of a few people who make things happen; the second type are the many who watch things happen; and the third category are the overwhelming majority who have no notion of what happens. - (N. M. Butler)

What is accreditation?
Accreditation is

A process by which institutions or programs continuously upgrade their educational quality and service through self-evaluation and the judgment of peers. A concept based on self-regulation which focuses on evaluation and the continuing reinforcement of educational quality. A status granted to an educational institution or programs which meets commonly accepted standards of quality or excellence.

What are the basic characteristics of accreditation?

a.) its prevailing sense of volunteerism

b.)
c.) d.)

its strong tradition of self-regulation

its reliance on evaluation techniques its primary concern with quality

Basic Principles of Accreditation

Based on accepted standards
Each school seeking accreditation will be surveyed and evaluated in terms of the appropriateness and adequacy of its philosophy and objectives and its terms of the degree and competence and which it achieves its goals.

Concerned with the teacher-learner relationship

Basic Principles of Accreditation

Provides opportunities institutional growth through survey and evaluation and regulation. for selfself-

Admits periodic review, criticism, and readjustment of its criteria, policies and procedures to changes in education.

How are these standards measured?

Accrediting agencies judge an institution not by comparison with other institutions but primarily by the degree to which each institutions own avowed philosophy and objectives, vision-mission are matched by actual practice in the various areas being evaluated.

What is the difference between program accreditation and institutional accreditation?

Program Accreditation, refers to the accreditation of academic courses such as liberal arts, sciences, education, commerce, law, engineering, nursing, etc. PAASCUs policy extends accreditation by program. In contrast. Institutional Accreditation, refers to the accreditation of the school, college, universities or institution as a whole. Under PAASCU policy, institutional accreditation is not undertaken by itself; only individual programs are accredited. Only when all the programs of an institution are accredited may that particular institution be considered an accredited institution under the PAASCU policy.

Different Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines:

1. FAAP (Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines 2. PAASCU ( Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities) 3. AACCUP (Accrediting Association of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines)

Different Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines:

4. PACUCOA (Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation) 5. ACSC-AAI (Association of Christian Schools and College-Accrediting Agency, Incorporated) 6. IQUAME (Institutional Monitoring Evaluation for Quality Assurance)

What areas are evaluated during the survey?

On the collegiate and secondary levels, the following areas are evaluated: 1.College/School Community Involvement 2. Faculty 3. Instruction 4. Library
On the grade school level, the library and laboratories (no. 4 and no. 5 above) are omitted; instead, Student Activity Program is added.

5. Laboratories 6. Physical Plant 7. Student Services 8. Administration

What areas in the library are evaluated during the survey?

A. Administration

B. Collections/Holdings
C. Personnel D. Financial Support E. Services and Use F. Physical Facilities

THE SYSTEMS APPROACH SHOWING THE EFFECTS OF ACCREDITATION ON LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT

INPUT Administration Collections Personnel Financial Support Services & Use Physical Facilities THROUGHPUT Accreditation Program / SelfSurvey Accreditation Process Self-Survey Preliminary Visit Formal Visit Re-accreditation OUTPUT
Development of the Library Sufficient Budget Updated and Adequate Library Collections Qualified and Competent Personnel Innovative Library Services Improved Library Facilities Accredited Status

The School Self-Survey

It is an in-depth study that focuses on the librarys purposes, programs, services and resources. It provides the basis for continuing efforts to improve the quality of services offered.

Expected Outcomes of a Self-Survey

Staff Development

Collection Development
Physical Facilities Development Program Development

Characteristics of a Valid Self-Survey

Cooperative involvement of the people concerned Comprehensive study of significant factors Carefully designed procedures Planning and projection

TIPS IN ANSWERING THE SURVEY FORMS:

Provisions, conditions or characteristics found in good schools Use the symbols for provision or condition: e.g. E, S, L, M, N or 5, 4, 3, 2,1 Avoid overrating or underrating your school

TIPS IN ANSWERING THE SURVEY FORMS:

Be sure answers can be justified or defended through documents, actual practices and operation. Answers should be based on present conditions and actual practice. Answer what analysis question simply asks

Answering the Evaluation:

The Evaluation ratings should be congruent and consistent with the analysis ratings.

A. Administration:
Documents Needed: Organizational set-up/organizational chart

Library development plan

Annual report Minutes of monthly staff meetings Minutes of library committee meetings Library Handbooks/Rules and Regulations Procedural Manual Library Budget Personnel Credentials

A. Administration:
Evidences to indicate that: Organizational chart is suitable to the institution and is clearly drawn Well-written library development plan Minutes of meetings are grammatically correct The annual report showing the accomplishments, utilization, needs and plans for development is well-written Library handbooks and Library Guides The Procedural Manual is available for the library personnel

B. Collections/Holdings:
Documents Needed: Collection Development Plan

Book Selection Policy

List of Periodical Subscriptions (local and foreign)Subscribed and Free Number of titles and volumes of books added to the collections for the last 5 years

B. Collections/Holdings:
Documents Needed: Number of titles and volumes of books classified under the DDC/LC classification List of Non-print materials Card Catalog and Shelf-list Catalog

Accession Record Books

Bibliographic tools and records Inventory of books

Vertical File

B. Collections/Holdings:
Evidence to indicate that: That the library has satisfactory holdings in different subject areas of the DDC & LCC classification, no. of volumes and titles copyrighted for the last 5 years. Library resources are relevant and adequate in quality and quantity Balance exists in the collections Every discipline is provided with enough books in proportion to the required number of volumes

B. Collections/Holdings:
Evidence to indicate that: The library has strong reference collection At least 10% of the book collection is Filipiniana The library has an updated vertical file Non-print materials are available and accessible Print and Non-print resources and properly cataloged and classified under a standard system

B. Collections/Holdings:
Evidence to indicate that:

Accession books and shelf-lists are maintained

A card catalog is updated, functional and convenient The OPAC is functional and operational Bibliographic tools/record are available Collection of books, periodicals and other materials is adequate to support the academic programs of the institution;

B. Collections/Holdings:
Evidence to indicate that:

Books and periodicals are well chosen and well balanced to meet the demands of todays education and other recreational interests of students, faculty and staff
Continuous weeding-out program to keep collections relevant and up-to-date is implemented Collection analysis be conducted yearly

C. Personnel
Documents Needed: Organizational Chart of the library Duties and responsibilities of library staff and student assistants List of Library staff (professional and Non-professional)

Data on educational background and years of experiences, faculty status

Policies and procedures governing library operations Staff development Plan List of training & seminars attended

C. Personnel
Evidence to indicate that: The college has a professionally trained chief librarian (master of Science in Library Science) The college met the required number of librarian for every 500 students and every increase of 1,000 students or fraction thereof 1 additional professional librarian

The Library has written policies and procedures governing its operation
There are at least 2 clerks and 2 assistants to every full time librarian

Trainings in the preparation and /or use of materials are provided to professional staff

D. Financial Support:
Documents Needed:

Library Budget
Proof of Library Acquisitions (Receipts) Proof of Periodical Subscriptions (Receipts)

Expenditures for the last 5 years

D. Financial Support:
Specific Concerns: Evidence to indicate that:

The Head librarian is involved in library budgeting

The institution allocates regular and realistic budget for the library, that is 35-45 % for books and other materials and 50-60% for library personnel services All library fees should be used solely for library purposes. (PAASCU) The library fees be spent exclusively for library purposes or that the library budget be no less that 5% of the annual operating expenses of the institution, exclusive of salaries of the professional staff. (PACUCOA) All fees and funds allocated for library resources and services are utilized solely for such purposes and are properly audited (AACUP)

E. Services and Utilization:

Documents Needed: Statistical data on library use (faculty and students) Statistical data on the loans for print and non-print materials (faculty and students)

E. Services and Utilization:

Evidence to indicate that: That the library is open not only during hours that the college is in session Equitable lending policies should be extended to all qualified patrons Regular announcement of new acquisitions and other promotional activities should be made periodically Resource sharing arrangements could also be considered There is evidence of satisfactory use of the library materials Librarian/Staff are available during library hours to assist and provide library services to users

E. Services and Utilization:

Provision are made for the following: Functional and interactive library web page

OPAC
Circulation On-line Computerized Cataloging

Internet Searching
CDROM Services On-line Database

Photocopying Services

Benefits

Administrative Strengths Accredited Funding & COEs Excellence Prestige & CODs Weaknesses Deregulation Assistance Status

Thank you
& Madayaw Dabaw!