The History

In 1994, a vision to open a Library Science course was materialized when the Holy Cross of Davao College celebrated its 43rd Anniversary. It was initiated by Mrs. Teresita O. Eco, the HCDC High School Librarian, who was already a full-pledged Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLS) from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. With the support of her co-librarians in HCDC, who were also working on their thesis, preparation of the needed requirements for the application of the library science major for CHED was done.

     After CHED granted the approval to offer library science as major subject, it was at this time that Bachelor of Science i8n Educati0n (BSED) had an additional major. Simultaneously, on the same year, library science was also offered as one of the major subject of Liberal Arts which eventually became AB-Major in Library Science.

          After four (4) years, both programs produced graduate with major in library science. However, when Republic Act 6966 – known as “The Philippine Librarianship ‘Act” was enacted into law ,it mandated that library science graduate should take a licensure examination in order to practice librarianship profession. The energetic faculty of Library Science decided to revise the curriculum due to the licensure requirements.

          In the year 2000, the AB-major in Library Science and BSE major in Library Science were gradually phased out. The curriculum was transformed into BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE (BSLIS) Program through the approval of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED XI). Though not a densely populated program as indicated in the trend of the enrollment, it has produced graduates for the first batch of BSLIS program in October, 2003 and in March, 2004.

          The first faculty members who nurtured the existence of the program until this time are: Mrs. Restituta D. Macarayo (the former in-charge /coordinator of the BSLIS Program prior to the October, 2002) now the KDC (Knowledge Development Center) Librarian at the USEP; Miss Ligaya Marquez, the Director of Libraries (on-study leave); Mr. Felix Bolocon, the Audio-Visual & IMC in-charged; Dr. Briccio Merced Jr., the University Librarian of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao Campus; Engr. Eduoard Villegas, (former internet in-charge of HCDC) now the HCDC Systems Engineer, Mrs. Teresita O. Eco , (former HCDC Librarian), now the Director of Libraries of the University of South Eastern Philippines – (USEP); and in June, 2003, Mrs. Angelita Achacoso Bisares, (former IMC in-charge of the Assumption College of Davao), is now holding two key position as the BSLIS Program Head (since June, 2003) and as OIC-Director of Libraries (since January, 2004 up to the present). Though all of the faculty members are serving the program as part-time instructors, yet they are all practicing librarians and are actively involved in professional organizations. The students are enriched by the theories and the actual experiences of these librarians in the field of librarianship training. This is manifested in the result of the past licensure examinations. To attest to this, in 1999, Holy Cross of Davao College ranked 18th, in the 2001, ranked 14th, and in 2002, ranked 11th of the top performing library schools of the country. Most of the HCDC Library Science graduates who have acquired a license and even those who have just graduated, from their bachelor’s degree are already employed as librarians or as a library in-charge in the different major institutions not only in the locality but also in the national level.

       In School Year Mrs. Melinda B. Belangel was hired as a part-time instructor.  In S.Y. Mr. Denan Carino was also hired as a substitute instructor for Mrs. Alba during her maternity leave.

   In S.Y. 2005-2006 a new BLIS curriculum was offered by the virtue of CMO # 8 effective June of 2005. It was then revised in S.Y. 2006-2007.

       In S.Y. 2009-2010, there was major institutional structural changes in the academic organization took place. There were five (5) colleges created and the BLIS program was under the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) department under the deanship of Dr. Raymundo P. Pendor.  Upon the retirement of Dr. R.  Pendor in 2008, Dr. Cristina M. Pendor took over.

  The BLIS Program conducted  an in-house review is being conducted (every Sunday only) starting August until the month of  November, every year  in order to prepare library science graduates to hurdle the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Board Examination for Librarians which is held every second week of November.   Due to the need of some graduates from other library schools to attend review classes, the review has now open to reviewees who have graduated from other institutions.

        In November, 2010 PRC Board Examination, the BLIS produce four (4) passers with a second place in the person of Miss ALDIANNE JOY AMBIT. The following were the passers to the recent Librarians Board Examination:  Ms. Aisa Balico, Ms. Gina Malanug and Mr. Erwin Rhui Ojaldon. Just recently after the examination result of the Board for librarians, the BLIS program held a motorcade for the first time. It was spearheaded by Mrs. Angelita A. Bisares, Head Librarian of the BLIS Program. For the past five years the BLIS Program enrollees are increasingly meant to have.

      The faculty line-up for  Second Semester School-Year 2011-12 includes the following: Mrs. Bisares, Angelita A., Mrs. Alba Melinda B., Mrs. Macarayo, Restituta D.,Mr. Bolocon, Felix L., Mrs. Desabilla, Anne FRances, Miss Calunsag, Isaval Mae ,Mr. Tomas, Ernesto and Mr. Musico, Albert.