After Teachers and Lecturers, Now is the Time for the Librarians For Their Certification Process
After teachers and lecturers, it is now the time for the librarians to undertake the certification process for their profesionalism. This was stated by Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Yonny Koesmaryono, in his opening remarks at the National Seminar for Librarian with theme “Kompetensi dan Sertifikasi Pustakawan dalam Menghadapi Tantangan Global (Competency and Certification of Librarians Towards Global Challenges)" at IPB International Convention Centermber 2011.
Further, according to Prof Yonny, people think that the library is considered as an attachement unit of the institution, but if we evaluate its functions, we kow that the library is actually a center of learning. Those perception was due to reality that most of the librarians have minimum standard for both of their qualifications as well as their profesional performances. Accordingly, certification for librarians is very important to improve their profesional performances.
However, certification for librarians of course will affect to the ballooning of government budget, as certification means the provision of rewards or incentives for the librarians. This the consequences reward and punishment process.
Hopefully the enforcement of Law no. 43 on the certification of librarians will change the public perception on the library as the attachement unit of the respective institution, but it will be functioning as the heart of the University or the Center of learning, "he said.
Towards the global challenges which will be encountered by the librarians, Prof. Yonny suggested that mastering the information technology (IT) is a must for them. "If they do not knowledgeable on IT, they will be left behind," he added.
On the same occasion, the faculty member of the Department of Information and Library Science of the Faculty of Communication, University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Dr. Ninis Agustini Damayanti expressed that the present librarian should also posses marketing and entrepreneurship senses, to enable them explain sources of information for their final users.
Other speakers invited were Mr. Sanromo, A. Pi, M. Ed, of the National Professional Certification / BNSP, Prof. Aida Vitayala Hubeis, the Communication Expert of Bogor Agricultural University, Ms. Titik Kismiyati, M. Hum of the National Library, Jakarta, and Mr. Blasius Sudarsono, MLS of the PDII-LIPI, Jakarta. This national event was participated by librarians from various universities, as well as elementary and secondary education from various regions in Indonesia. (Wied).
