LIASA Professional Body Recognition: Purpose, Implications & Benefits

Background

In 2011 LIASA started to investigate the professional body status of librarians. In 2013 the Executive Committee of LIASA asked the members at the Conference for their approval to go ahead with the professional body status. It was approved and at the end of 2013 LIASA submitted their application to SAQA. On 25 July 2014 a call for comment regarding the professional body recognition intention and suggested designation was published as Government Notice 589. LIASA received no negative comments and in November 2014 recognition was awarded by SAQA in terms of NQF Act (67 of 2008) to LIASA. The designation would be: Professional Librarian.

On 2 October 2018 the LIASA manager, Ms Annamarie Goosen, was asked by the Economic and Management Faculty Library to talk to the staff of UP Libraries about the professional body status of librarians.  Some of the following information was extracted from her PowerPoint presentation.

Definition of a professional body

The NQF Act 67 of 2008 defines a professional body as “any body of expert practitioners in an occupational field.”

Purpose of Professional Body Registration

LIASA was awarded professional body status in accordance with the SAQA professional body recognition and registration criteria and the NQF Act 67 of 2008. Professional body recognition allows LIASA, as the acknowledged national LIS professional body, to strive for excellence in the practice of librarianship by regulating qualifications and the code of conduct, endorsing new qualifications, setting standards for ethical practice and professional standards, implementing and monitoring CPD, endorsing CPD service providers and determining additional designations.

What is a professional designation?

Professional designation means “A title or status conferred by a professional body in recognition of a person’s expertise and right to practice in an occupational field” (NQF Act 67 of 2008)

The criteria for a professional librarian designation are

• a bachelor degree in LIS  OR a post graduate diploma in LIS OR one year practical experience in the relevant field.
• The ability to display an understanding of the LIS environment, legislation and the ethical use of information for the public good
• Demonstrating competence and skills in the use and management of information and knowledge resources in all formats and for all purposes.
• The ability to function effectively as an information worker in rapidly changing environments
• The commitment to continuing professional development (CPD)
• Abiding by the Disciplinary Code of Conduct.

When applying for the designation of professional librarian one must be a paid up member of LIASA for the current year, provide certified copies of one’s ID, LIS related qualifications and confirmation of employment.

Why continuing professional development (CPD)?

The benefits of CPD are for

• The Individual member:  to improve one’s capacity to develop technical and professional knowledge,  personal and ethical competencies, skills, attitudes and values of professionalism and career prospects and support career progression with current and future employers.
• The employer: to ensure that professional staff fulfil their responsibilities and tasks or duties competently, to encourage professional staff to improve or continue to perform competently within their professional environments and chosen roles and to create the environment for new roles and to encourage professionals to take on new roles.
• The profession: a well-regulated and competent workforce and professionalising the practice of librarianship.
• The public:  access to qualified, competent and knowledgeable librarians who practice according to ethical guidelines and international standards for the public good.

The responsibility for developing and maintaining competence always rests with the member.

There are two broad CPD categories: individual activities and group activities. Professional librarians are required to accumulate 20 CPD points over a three (3) year cycle and it is the individual’s responsibility to accumulate the points.

Please click on the CPD points link to learn more http://www.liasa.org.za/cpd-activities-and-requirements/

More on the professional body status can be read at: http://www.liasa.org.za/professional-body

We hope that more colleagues will read about the PBS and that the colleagues who attended the session now have a better understanding of it. If there are still questions, please send them to: [email protected]