Filipino Librarians Association – UAE

Filipino Librarians Association - UAE
(FLA - UAE)

The Filipino Librarians Association UAE (FLA-UAE) is a professional community of Filipino librarians and para-professional librarians working across school, higher education, special, and public libraries throughout the United Arab Emirates. The association is dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment that empowers its members through access to licensure opportunities, professional development, and continuous learning. Committed to advancing the library profession, FLA-UAE serves as a platform for growth, connection, and excellence among Filipino information professionals in the region.

FLA-UAE traces its origins to 2018, when a seminar led by an international school librarian at Deira International School inspired the idea of forming a professional community for Filipino librarians in the UAE. This initiative was strengthened through a series of workshops, where participants recognized the need for organized seminars and continued professional engagement. The concept gained further momentum with the involvement of a Filipino librarian pursuing a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, who encouraged collaboration through her research. During another workshop in 2019, a contact information form enabled participants to stay connected, leading to the creation of a WhatsApp group by Filipino librarian attendees. This platform quickly became a space for knowledge sharing, practical guidance, and peer support, ultimately laying the foundation for the association’s development and future direction.

Mission Statement

The mission of the FLA-UAE is to assertively lead the development, promotion, and enhancement of library and information professionals, specifi cally empowering Filipino librarians and paraprofessionals in the UAE.

Goals

To advocate for Filipino librarians in professional and community environments such as the Bayanihan Council, Philippine Professional Organization UAE, and Philippine Librarians Association Inc;

To work towards making the board exam accessible for librarians in the UAE;

To facilitate professional development opportunities for Filipino librarians;

To promote Librarianship (BLIS, MLIS) in the community as one of the in-demand courses with a 95% employability rate

To establish a strong collaboration and engagement among other Higher Education (HE), School, Special and Public libraries to engage in knowledge-sharing and information literacy development.