On this day in 1914, the UP Board of Regents unanimously approved the establishment of a special course in library training at the University and appointed Dr. James A. Robertson as lecturer in Library Science. This milestone led to the first Library Science class in Southeast Asia, which met on July 13, 1914, at the Filipiniana Division of the Philippine Library, with ten enrolled students.
111 years later, we honour the pioneering contributions of Dr. James A. Robertson, Ms. Mary Polk, Ms. Syrena McKee, Ms. Blanche Shelp, Mrs. Emma O. Elmer, and other early champions of Philippine library education. Their dedication laid the foundation for a profession that continues to evolve with the changing landscape of information.
As part of our anniversary celebration, we are excited to launch LisTen UP!, a video series featuring student-created content that explores key issues in information and society. Information is at the heart of everything we do—it influences decisions, shapes perspectives, and drives action. But in a world where information can be manipulated, distorted, or weaponized, critical engagement is more important than ever.
The first episode, produced by Hans Miguel Salazar for Asst. Prof. Dridge Paul Reyes’ LIS 10 class, examines deepfakes—why they are so convincing, how they can be misused, and their real-world impact on people's lives.
Check it out on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Ya8a_QppbH8
Join us as we celebrate 111 years of library education by continuing to explore, question, and engage with information in all its forms!
Published: 2025-03-17 16:39:11