This document provides guidelines for establishing, improving, and operating school libraries in the Philippines. It defines what a school library is and its purposes in supporting teaching and learning. Key aspects covered include the types of spaces and collections a school library should have, as well as the roles and responsibilities of library staff. The document also discusses transitional growth stages for school libraries and how they can be transformed into places that support 21st century learning through reading, discovery, and collaboration.

1. POLICY ON SCHOOL
LIBRARYESTABLISHMENT,
IMPROVEMENT, AND
OPERATIONS
REYCHEL O. GAMBOA
LIPA CITY,BATANGAS

2. School library in modern
name?
o School learning center(SLC)
o Information learning center (ILC)
o Learning Common (LC)
o Blended Information Center
-print (text-based) and non-print
(non-text based)
o Library Media center

3. Purposes of school library
O Essential learning environment
O Make supplementary learning resources
available and accessible to teachers and
learners
O use available resources efficiently and
effectively as tools of learning andteaching.

4. MAIN GOAL
O Beyond acquiring a rich collection for libraries
and promoting their effective use, school
libraries shall be established, improved, and
operated as a place for 21st century learning,
inclusive and responsive servicing, and
collaborative building and sourcing to support
the K to 12 Program.

5. What is school library?
O is an information center
, audio-visual center,
and instructional material center. (DECS
Order No. 6, s, 1998).
O Alibrary associated or connected with a
school and used by the students,teachers,
and staff of that school is called a school
library.

7. O Classroom library – are space, or corner inside the
classroom where learners can used educational
materials or choose a book, sit, andread.
O Library hub – is a reservoir of supplementary
reading materials managed by the Division Office
intended to promote and develop love and habit of
reading among learners.
O Mobile library – innovation that provides a collection of
print and non-print materials like books, pamphlets,
recordings and films placed in a receptacle and located
in target areas to serve the literacy needs ofprospective
learners.

8. O Electronic library or e-library-called virtual library.
Computers with internet and onlineaccess.
O Digital library – library which collections are stored in
digital formats and accessible via computers. The
digital content may be stored locally, or accessed
remotely via computer networks.

9. Technical Library terms:
Big books – special edition of children’s picture books,
published in very large format to facilitate display ofthe
illustrations to a group in storytelling, usually bound in
colorfully illustrated, flexible covers.
Educational Materials- materials used by leaners
and/or teachers to deepen love for reading and/or for
reinforcement, mastery, or enrichment of learning in
different subject areas.

10. O Learning resource- any text-based or non-text based
material used as primary basis or as a supplement to
the teaching and learning process.
-text-based Learning Resources – include print and non-
print materials that are in book form and intended for
large-scale use. These may be reading materials, skill
books, modules, Braille materials, general references,big
books, curriculum guides, teaching guide models,
competency-based learning materials, or teacher support
materials such as lesson exemplars and other similar
materials.

11. O Non-text-based Learning Resources –tools, materials,
manipulative toys, and equipment used as supplement
to the teaching and learning process.
O Electronic Learning Resources- materials such asvideo
and sound recordings, digital files of learning
resources, movies and documentaries, and other
information sources that can be accessed
electronically.

12. O Supplementary Learning Resources- text-based and
non-text based learning resources intended forlibrary
collection.
O Designated Library Manager- is a teacher assignedor
designated by the school head to manage the school
library in the absence of a qualified professional
librarian to ensure the continuous operation of the
school library.

13. POLICY STATEMENT
The DepEd hereby provides the Guidelines on the
Establishment, Improvement, and Operations of
School Libraries detailed in this Order to institute
standards that will serve
establishment, improvement,
as basis
and
in the
operation of
transformed libraries in the public schools in order to
contribute to attaining greater level of learning
achievements.

14. V
.Establishment, Improvement, andOperation
Procedures
- The guidelines on establishment, improvement, and
operation of transformed school libraries in thepublic
schools are provided as follows:
Vision
-All DepEd libraries shall be transformed as fully
functional place for reading, discovery, and collaboration

15. Mission
O All DepEd libraries aim to empower and bestow
leadership to learners, teachers, librarians, and
school stakeholders in choosing, gaining,storing,
accessing, and making supplementary learning
resources available to create a place forreading,
discovery, and collaboration.

16. B.School Library Components
1. School Vision forLearning
1. Planning for School Improvement
-the School Head shall have the authority,
accountability, and responsibility in developing
school improvements which include plans forthe
establishment, improvement, and operation of
the school library aligned to the Vision, Mission,
and Framework of the DepEd Libraries.

17. 1.2. Designing Learning Environments to Support
Participatory Learning
O Physical Facilities
-Preferably there must be a separate building or
room allocated for a school library which is
adequately lighted, suitably ventilated, conducive to
quiet reading, study and research, easilyaccessible
to users, and sufficiently spacious to provide the
services it is supposed torender.

18. Physical Set-up and Scope
O Physical Set-up and Space
- The school library shall be located in a space that
can accommodate at least 10% of the total
enrolment at 2.40 sq.m. per place provided thatthe
total area is not less than that of a standard
classroom.
- 2/3 of the total area must be allotted asreading
area
- 1/3 for the library collection, space for thelibrarian
and/or library staff

19. O Schools with big enrolment can have several
school libraries in different locations which could
accommodated at least one section to make the
school library accessible to users.
O The schools should not convert an existing
classroom to a school library if this will cause
displacement of learners whereby classes are
conducted in other places not conducive to learning.
It is recommended that a classroom library should
set-up in every classroom temporarily while the
school is building a room for a school library

20. b. Furniture and equipment
O The school library shall be appropriately
equipped with functional and appealing furniture
and equipment to make it inviting to the users.
C. Library Collection
-the school library should acquire print, non-print,
and electronic learning resources as well as equipment
that will support and reinforce the curriculum and
address the needs, abilities, and interests of theusers.

21. O Types of School Library Collection
General References
1. Encyclopedia – at least one (1) set, preferably in
digital format
2. Dictionaries – at least one (1) Unabridged English
dictionary ;one (1) Filipino-English/ English-Filipino
dictionary; one (1) mother tongue/regional language
3. Atlas, almanac, handbook, manual, yearbook,
gazetteer, and director- at least for each type

22. O ContentArea Books forGeneralCollection
- These are references that support the different subject
areas (but are not basic textbooks) including
professional books for teachers and other employees,
recreational, hobby, and the like.
- Each content area/subject must have at least 5 different
title in the library collection
- Fictional materials like novels and storybooks. At least ,1
title of fictional material for every learner in the
collection.
- The novel and story book collection is arranged in a
separate shelf labeled as Fiction. Professional
books/Readings can also be organized in a separate
shelf labeled as such.

23. O Periodicals
Subscription to three ( 3 ) titles of general interestand
educational magazines, two (2) professional journals,
and newspapers, one (1) in English and one (1) in
Filipino, is highlyrecommended.
Non-print Materials
The school library shall also maintain a learning resource
collection in various formatslike:
1.Maps – at least one (1) Philippine, one (1) World, one
(1) for each continent. If possible for Philippine Map, one
(1) political, one (1) economic, and one (1)geographic

24. 2. Globe – at least one (1)
3.Educational toys such as manipulative, boardgames,
etc.
4. Pictures, charts, and photographs
Copyright of Materials
T
wenty percent (20%) of the total collection must be
titles that were published within the last ten (10)years.

25. Librarian and Support Staff
-Every complete elementary, junior high school, and
senior high school must have a professional school
librarian to manage the school library. However
, in the
absence of a professional school librarian, a library
manager who is an existing teacher of the school may be
designated to man a school

26. Designation a Library Manager
O School heads shall prioritize the assignment to
an excess teacher/s (if any) in his/her school.
O SH shall determine and assign a teacher to be a library
manager.
O There should be no additional compensation/pay for
the designated teacher as library manager. However
,
the provisions for the teaching loads for thedesignated
library manager specified in this section must be
followed.

27. Enrolment: LibraryManager/Professional
School Librarian Ratio
a. 1) 500 or less – one full-time designated library
manager or two part-time librarymanagers
b. 2.)501-1,000 – one full-time professional school
librarian or one full-time designated librarymanager
and one part-time designated librarymanager
c. 3.)1,001-2,000- one full-time professional school
librarian designated library manager or one full-time
designated library manager, and a librarystaff
d. 4.)2001 and above- one full-time professional school
librarian and one full-time designated library manager
or two-full time designated library manager and alibrary
staff; one additional library staff for every 1,000
additional enrollees.

28. Qualifications:
1)Professional School Librarian – Bachelor of Library
Science (BLS)/ Bachelor of Library and Information
Science (BLIS) graduate; licensedlibrarian
2)Full-time designated library manager/part-time
designated library manager-licensed teacher withfaculty
status; excess teacher is apriority
3) Library Staff – college graduate related to
Education or Information Technology

29. Teaching loads and status
1)The full-time and par-time designated library
manager must enjoy their faculty status and their
respective salary grade.
2)Aprofessional school librarian must be given a
Librarian I status and its corresponding salary grade.
He/She may achieve Librarian II status uponreaching
the qualification.
3)Afull-time designated library manager must be
given not more than one teaching load andany other
major assignment that being in charge of the school
library.
4)A part-time designated library manager must not be
given more than two teaching loads and any other major
assignments than being in charge of thelibrary

30. Duties and responsibilities
O 1. responsible for the school library establishment,
management, and continuous improvement withthe
support of the teachers, school heads and other
stakeholders.
O 2.The school library shall be open before, during,
and after classes to meet the needs of users and
maximize the use of library resources, facilities, and
services. The school library schedule must be
disseminated toeveryone.

31. Design forCollaboration
1. Engaging Readers to Read. – Learners motivated
to engage in reading.
Classroom library – is a collection of big books,
story books, other reading materials, educational toys,
and other print and non-print learning resources
organized in classrooms for easy access.
a. Physical Set-up and Space
a.1 ) Apportion not more that one-third (1/3) ofthe
classroom, preferably at the back portion, where
learners can sitcomfortably.

32. O A.2. Arrange books and materials into categories,
topics, or themes. For example, place in a shelf,basket,
or tray all books that are about animals, fairy tales,
legends, places, etc.
O A.3. Label every book and material, and the basket,
tray or shelf accordingly.

33. B.Furniture and Equipment
O The library shall have few book shelves (the height should
not bee higher that the learners), baskets or trays, a small
rug, carpet or rubber mats, and acouch or relaxing chairs.

35. C. Classroom LibraryCollection
O The collection must be age and grade level level-
appropriate. It is the classroom adviser’s responsibility
to carefully select the educational materials to be
included in thecollection.
 Big books, read-aloud books, and storybooks
 Content are books
 Works of the learners
 Teacher-made learning resources/instructional
materials
 Educational toys
 Audio-visual educational materials

36. O There must at be at least one (1) big book orstory
book for each learner in theclass.
O Aside from the books and other resources which
shall be procured by DepEd, the school may do the
ff.to acquire materials and enrich the classroom
library collection provided that existing DepEd
policies and guidelines are considered:
Borrow books from the school library or the LibraryHub
for a particular time to display and use in the
classroom.

37. O Ask the learners to bring books and toys to share
and place them in thelibrary.
O Spearhead book drivecampaigns.
O Solicit donations from Local Government Units
(LGUs), alumni, parents, civic organizations, and
other stakeholders.
O Exchange classroom library collection withother
classroom libraries from time totime.

38. Sample
classroom library

39. School LibraryActivities
O Library Orientation -during the start of the year
. Ithelp
learners and teachers to familiarize the functions and
services that the school libraryprovides.
O Updating of Bulletin/ Information Board – this
promotes library and information services andother
updates about the school library
O Library Instruction- aims to educate the learners onthe
proper use and features of the school library including
library operations.

40. O National Book Week Celebration – a regular celebration
held in the Month of November that promotes love for
books and reading.
O Library Club/Book Lover’s Club- a school-based club
for learners who lovereading.
O Library Period/Hour- an allotted time for a
particular subject to conduct research or library
work.
O others

41. 2. Focus on Learners
- Learners asactive participants in construction of
meaning.
a. School Library Services
1.Bibliographic searching
 use of cardcatalog
 use of OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) insearching
for library collection
2.Borrowing service – a service that allow students,
faculty, and staff to borrow library materials for a certain
period of time.
3. Reference Service – a library service that provides
library users with direction to librarymaterials

42. O 4.Vertical File Collection- access to clippings of
newspaper articles and ephemerals in varioussubject
areas.
O 5. Internet/Computer Service-
O 6.Library Instruction
O 7.Indexing Services
O 8.Eletronic Resources Collection
O 9.Inter-Library loan
O 10.Referral Service
O 11.Current Awareness Service
O 12.Selective Dissemination of Information(SDI)
O 13.Book therapy
O 14.Pathfinder

43. 3.Focus on Learning
O Learners vary in culture, socioeconomic status,
language, gender, motivation, ability and/or disability,
personal interests, and learning ability.

44. a. E-Library and Digital Library
1. Learning Resource (LR) Portal of the Developmentof
Education – online portal where users can explore
various learning resources aligned to the K-12
curriculum.
lrmds.deped.gov.ph
2. Department of Science and Technology(DOST)
STARBOOKS – contains thousands of digitized science
and technology resources in various formats (text and
video/audio)
http://www.starbooks.ph
3.GFS Library – web-based platform that provide free
access to educational e-books to both teachers and
learners for K-12 learning.
http://www.gfslibrary.com

45. ALS mobile library
O Innovation that provides a collection of print andnon-
print materials like books, etc.
O Provide life-long learning opportunities toout-of-
school children's, youth and adults

46. School partners in
collaborative learning
O Role of teachers in collaborativelearning
O Role of Principals and other School Administrators in
Collaborative Learning
-key individuals in facilitatingschool
improvements.

47. 4. School and Community
Partnership
O Inclusion of Community and Cultural Practices-
cultivating and enabling partnership betweenschool
and the community

48. TRANSITIONAL GROWTH
STAGESOF SCHOOL LIBRARY
1. EMERGING – school must developed a plan on
how their school library would be a place for
reading, discovery, and collaboration for allthe
learners, teachers,etc.
-plans in preparations on
establishment of library facility,
building
technology and
collections, provision of
library staff.
-plans include curricular and co-
curricular activities that will promote the school library
asa place for reading, discovery, and collaboration

49. 2.ESTABLISHED
-transform the school library to be a place
for reading, discovery, and collaboration for all learners.
-library facilities have been established, library
collection has been started to be built, technology has
been started to be provided
-proofs of implementation

50. 3.LEADING
O School has significant evidences in making the
school library as a place forreading.
O Indications found that the establishment,
improvement and operations of school library have
impacted the learning and operations of school library
O Contributed to the achievement of the K-12 objectives

51. Budget/Funds
O School Library Funds shall be 5 to 10% of the MOOE
of
the school
Funds shall be used for theff:
O Provision of school library needs such as supplies,
materials,supplies
O Subscription of magazines,journals
O Procurement of Supplementary Learning Resources
(SLR) for library collection

52. MONITORING AND EVALUATION
O Monitoring and evaluation of school libraries, their
establishment, improvements, and operations including
all library-related activities shall be done regularly by
the school heads, Division Offices, Regional Offices,
and the Central Offices.

53. List of Furniture and Equipment for
School Library
O Reading tables
O Armless chairs
O Librarian’s table
O Librarian’s chair
O Circulation desk
O Book shelves
O Magazine rack
O Newspaper display rack
O Dictionary stand and atlasstand/shelves
O Book stand
O Book divider
O Storage cabinet
O Bulletin board
O Computers
O Printer

54. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF SCHOOL LIBRARIAN
O PROVISION OF SCHOOL LIBRARYSERVICES
1.Properly classifies/arranges and catalogues allmaterials
for easy retrieval
2.Administers loaning and borrowing of books for thelibrary
and home use
3.Assists the learners and teachers in the use of library
materials
4.Updates card catalog ifavailable
5.Organizes and updates the vertical file collection
6.Assists the users in the utilization of the computer and
internet access

55. SOURCES/ REFERENCES:
O DepEd Order No.56,s2011
O DepEd Order No.54,
s.2011 O DECS Order No.6,
s.1998
O Standards for Philippines Libraries
O Library Hub Handbook
O Educational Facilities Manual
O IFLA School Library Guidelines (2nd Edition)
O Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School
Library Learning Commons in Canada,2014