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LAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (PDS) |
A GUIDE FOR
APPLICANTS
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1. Overview of scheme |
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2. Procedure for obtaining award |
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3. Professional development activities
(Points table) |
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4. Acceptable professional development
activities |
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5. Keeping proper records & verification |
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6. Submission of application |
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7. One-off kick-start for the PDS Scheme |
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8. Appeals |
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9. Benefits of PP status |
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10. Further information |
1. Overview of scheme
1.1 The LAS
Professional Development Scheme (PDS) is an award that recognizes the effort
and achievements of librarians in their professional training and development
effort. The award of “Practicing Professional (PP)” is given to librarians who
attain a prescribed level of training and professional development activities.
LAS will confer the award to individuals on the recommendation of the PDS
Committee and their names will be gazetted and listed
in the official LAS website. Employers will be able to use this as an indicator
of a librarian’s ability in keeping up with the rapid changes in our field and
his/her likelihood of performing their job competently. Employers are
encouraged to use the scheme as part of their performance appraisal process and
for recruiting middle and senior level professional staff.
1.2 To qualify
for the PP award, a librarian need to attend or engage in 3 areas of
professional development and training activities conducted by qualified
training providers over a period of time. Each activity will attract a certain
number of points. A librarian will deem to qualify for the award when he/she
accumulate the necessary number of points in the 3 areas. Evidence of the
achievement will then be submitted by the candidate to the PDS Committee who
will then verify and recommend to LAS Council to award the PP status.
2. Procedure for obtaining award
2.1 The PDS
scheme is designed to be simple for applicants to register and for LAS to
administer. All information regarding the scheme will be available in the LAS
website www.las.org.sg. Applicants only
need to follow the 4 simple steps below:
a) Be
familiar with the types of professional development activities that qualify for
endorsement by PDS [see Section 3]
b) Engage in
these activities [see Section 4]
c) Keep
proper records of these activities [see Section 5] and the number of points
accumulated [see Section 3] using the PDS Activities Record Form [download from LAS website]
d) When the
minimum point required is reached, fill in the PDS application form, attach the
completed PDS Activities Record Form and send to PDS Committee for endorsement.
Ensure that you meet all pre-requisites before submission [see Section 6]
2.2 After
verification, the PDS Committee will recommend your application to the LAS
Council for the award of Practicing Professional status. Your name will be
listed on the LAS Website for a period of 2 years.
3. Professional development activities
3.1 Applicants need
to engage in at least 3 types of professional development activities:
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Expertise
development (ED) |
Activities that will help to
upgrade and improve the skills and knowledge of practitioners |
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Industry
Knowledge Development (ID) |
Activities that keep the
practitioner informed of current developments in the information industry |
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Personal
Development (PD) |
Activities that helps the
practitioner improve on his work productivity, personal management skills and
general knowledge |
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3.2 Each
activity entitles the applicant to a number of points. To qualify for the
Practicing Professional Award, the applicant needs to accumulate at least 500
points for ED, 400 points for ID and 100 points for PD within 2 years.
3.3 The
following chart shows the list of activities together with the points assigned.
There are various sub-groups within each category. Some sub-groups have a cap
on points that can be used to contribute to the total points accumulated. Further
explanations on this chart are given in Section 4. Explanations on how the
points are derived at are given in Section 10.1.
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POINTS |
CAP |
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A) |
Expertise Development (500 points) |
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Training |
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1. |
Participate in course/workshop on specific
LIS area (half day) |
27 |
350 |
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2. |
Participate in course/workshop on specific
LIS area (1 day) |
34 |
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3. |
Participate in course/workshop on specific
LIS area (2-4 day) |
48 |
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4. |
Participate in course/workshop on specific
LIS area (5-10 day) |
70 |
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5. |
Participate in course/workshop on specific
LIS area (>10 day) |
160 |
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6. |
Participate in Conference/seminar (half day) |
17 |
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7. |
Participate in Conference/seminar (1-day) |
24 |
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8. |
Participate in Conference/seminar (2-day) |
38 |
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9. |
Participate in Conference/seminar (> 3-day) |
52 |
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10. |
Participate in library internship (3-5 days) |
62 |
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11. |
Participate in library internship (> 5 days) |
124 |
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Professional activities |
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12. |
Chair conference session and seminar |
29 |
350 |
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13. |
Speaker at professional forum or seminar |
70 |
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14. |
Participate as committee member of
professional body (per year) |
125 |
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15. |
Participate as committee chair or council
member of LAS (per year) |
146 |
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16. |
Participate as office holder of Council (per
year) |
176 |
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Authorship |
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17. |
Write & present paper at a conference as
main author |
184 |
350 |
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18. |
Write & present paper at a conference as
joint author |
174 |
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19. |
Edit conference proceeding or book |
162 |
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20. |
Prepare and present poster at conference |
92 |
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21. |
Publish scholarly article in refereed
journal or publication as main author |
220 |
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22. |
Publish scholarly article in refereed
journal or publication as joint author |
200 |
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23. |
Write short article in published magazine or
news bulletin (> 1,000 words) |
44 |
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24. |
Write feature article in published magazine,
news bulletin (>2,000 words) |
68 |
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25. |
Conduct professional course or workshop
(half-day) |
117 |
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26. |
Conduct professional course or workshop
(> 1 day) |
180 |
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Professional reading and Self study |
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27. |
Professional reading as evidenced by
certified reading log or contributed annotated bibliography or reviews in LAS
website |
130 |
130 |
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B) |
Industry Knowledge Development (400 points) |
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1. |
Participate in library related talks,
forums, discussion sessions and business meetings (e.g. AGM, Council &
Committee meetings) organized by LAS or other libraries (provided they are
open to LAS members or other librarians) |
46 |
No
caps |
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2. |
Participate in product/services briefing
& demonstrations by vendor organized or approved by LAS |
36 |
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3. |
Attend library related exhibitions |
24 |
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4. |
Study visit to other libraries (local and
overseas) |
46 |
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5. |
Study tour to other libraries (local and
overseas) > 3 days |
70 |
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C) |
Personal Development (100 points) |
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1. |
Participate in any self-development or
productivity course not directly related to library and information work
(half day) |
26 |
No
caps |
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2. |
Participate in any self-development or
productivity course not directly related to library and information work (>
half day) |
32 |
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3. |
Any activity in the ID or ED group |
x |
4. Acceptable professional development
activities
The PDS Board does not certify individual training courses
and other professional development activities. Applicants who attend or engage
in any activities need to ensure that they adhere to the following guidelines.
4.1. Training courses and workshops
a) LIS courses should be conducted by qualified professionals with library and information science qualifications or by library science educators. Courses on closely related areas to LIS including information technology, intellectual property, educational and learning development and management must be condu