Keeping current: Continuing professional development (CPD) of AUNILO member librarians in the Philippines

Abstract

Engaging in continuing professional development (CPD) activities has become an obligation for librarians considering how libraries have evolved in the recent years. The pressure for academic librarians to keep themselves abreast of the recent trends in Library and Information Science (LIS), specifically those working in topnotch universities which are likewise members of the ASEAN University Network Inter-Library Online (AUNILO, is greater compared to their counterparts in other types of libraries. These librarians are faced with the challenge to constantly attend CPD activities which require financial/administrative support from their respective institutions. This paper aims to assess the adequacy of institutional support being extended to librarians in AUNILO member libraries in the country in aiding them to engage in CPD initiatives. Likewise, it tries to find out the efforts of librarians in these institutions in keeping oneself updated. A comparative analysis of the staff development programs of the three libraries was carried out. A survey was likewise conducted to the librarians of these universities to gather information regarding their participation to CPD activities. Results revealed that financial/administrative support provided by the three institutions are adequate and that all librarians surveyed regularly engage in both formal and informal CPD activities for various reasons.