Skip to main content

Topnotcher Review


Being in the library means I'm studying and watching other people study as well. I admire those who make the effort to deposit their bags and their phones in the corner away from the tables where they are reviewing.

Some give up after a few minutes and fetch their phones to take advantage of the free wifi and do some "research" online.

To make your learning through self-study more effective and your review time more productive, here are some topnotcher tips: These are also the basic tips I can share for would-be board exam examinees.

1. Organize your thoughts by drawing a simple mind map for all aspects of librarianship and information science. For example:

  • Concepts like reference transactions/interview, information sources, and Samuel Swett Green all belong to the main topic of Reference Librarianship; 
  • DDC, LCC, subject headings, Cutter tables, and RDA belong to the main topic of Cataloging and Classification. 
  • WiFi, Ada Lovelace, virtual reality, automation, library systems, MS Access, CMS, database management belong to the main topic of Information technology.
  • RA9246, RA6966, Library Organization, PLAI, PRC-BFL all belong to the main topic of Library Management. 

Why do this? -- This will help you divide your tons of thousands of BLIS notes/hand-outs into separate folders before you even start reviewing. In the beginning, they're all jumbled together into one pile of mess (in your head or literally). Remember that the LLE itself is divided into the main subject areas. This will also help you mentally condition yourself to pass each subject area.

2. Have a study time every day. A good study habit means you know exactly what time you will start reviewing and what time you will end your daily review. Even if you're attending review classes, e.g., Libraryanihan, you still need a time to synthesize and summarize, even if it's just 30 mins after your classes.

This way, you'll be anticipating your review time, and you can arrange the rest of your work/leisure around it. Studying also means no distractions (netflix or social media), no noise, and no food.

This will help you attain level of discipline to prepare yourself for crunch time, a.k.a., cramming time, during which you'll both be panicking and cramming simultaneously. You'll forget to sleep and eat, and you'll be dependent on coffee for a few days.

During this time, only your strict study schedule will make sense to you, and you may even depend on your developed study routine as a security blanket. Nothing's making sense, but you draw comfort from the fact that you're at least attempting to study more.


3. Take Notes
  • In two of my posts (PLAI Takeaways I and II, I demonstrated how I would take notes during a lecture.
  • The main line should be the topic being discussed, then below it, list the details in bullet points format. Here's the template:
(1) Topic
(1a) Main information about the topic (what, where, when, how, why - FAQs)
(1b) Supporting information - what else do we need to know, assumptions, unconfirmed reports
(1c) Question about the topic that can be answered by research or interview. 
4. Make a Bibliography
  • For each subject area you are studying, you should have several credible references that you go to for advice or to verify something. These can be books, serials, even people.
  • Organize your bibliography according to type. If these are websites, make sure you don't just lift off Wikipedia. List the name of the site along with the URL. 

5. Make a Who's Who / Trivia List

  • Any topic has a 'father' or someone who studied the topic intensively at one point in history. For instance, if the topic is "cats," who discovered them? Who was the person who coined the name?
  • This will spike your interest about your topic and make you more eager to study it.
  • This list will keep you from getting bored. 

6. Sound off to someone else

  • Talk at length about your topic with someone to synthesize your thoughts. You're picking the brain of someone.
  • This person you talk to may or may not be an authority in the field, but he/she must be as interested as you are, e.g., a classmate or professor.
  • If there is no one in your immediate circle who knows something about this topic, find specific interest groups on the internet, especially social networks. Forum communities are usual in the early 2000s, but now these have been replaced by Facebook communities.
  • Use hashtags to find people who are already talking about your topic on Twitter and Facebook. 








Popular posts from this blog

Real Duties of a Librarian (And How to Make Them Less Overwhelming)

Let’s set the record straight: being a librarian is not just about shelving books and saying “shhh.” It’s about juggling multiple roles— curator, educator, tech support, event planner, community builder, record keeper —often all before lunch. Here are just a few of the invisible-but-crucial duties librarians handle daily: 📚 1. Cataloging and Accessioning Keeping track of each book that enters your library, assigning it an accession number, and recording its details might seem like mundane admin work—but it’s the bedrock of your collection. Miss a step, and suddenly a book “doesn’t exist” in your system. 🧾 2. Inventory and Weeding Librarians regularly evaluate which books are actively used, which need repair, and which have quietly vanished. Without a clear, organized record, this becomes an endless guessing game. 🎓 3. Supporting Lifelong Learning From children’s storytime to adult computer classes, librarians create programs that educate and empower. But preparing for these...
Read more

How to Do Research in Studying and Revision

Why conduct your own research? I have often complained that many students now are spoon-fed, which means the information is available to them, collated and organized, and presented in the most accessible way possible. Then, I realize that I am a librarian, and I myself am responsible for collating, organizing, and making information accessible to users.  Does this mean I am spoonfeeding my users? No, I encourage research, but not haphazard research like a simple Google search of one keyword and end up opening just Wikipedia. I promote extensive research, and devoting time on it, even  if it's just for one topic.   Is conducting research worth it in this day and age?
Read more

What Do People Remember About You? Make Your First Impression Count in a Job Interview!

When attending job interviews, we encounter countless faces and personalities. From chance meetings on the street to interactions in virtual communities, we leave an imprint on others. But here's the intriguing question: What exactly do they remember about us? The Unforgettable Impression    Imagine this - you strike up a conversation with a stranger while waiting in line for coffee on your way to your job interview. Or maybe you're engaging with people on the vast expanse of the internet through your blog or forum posts. In both scenarios, you're leaving behind a piece of yourself. Sure, not everyone will vividly recall your name or face a few hours later, but here's the kicker: they'll carry an impression of you, a snippet of who you are.    Think of it like this - you're an artist, and every interaction is a brushstroke on the canvas of someone's memory. The beauty is that you don't have full control over how others perceive you. You can't dictate...
Read more

3 Ways to Make the Library a Civic Innovation Center

Libraries have always been more than just book-lending places. They’re public trust spaces, open to all, with no pressure to buy, perform, or belong to a certain group. In today’s fast-changing world, we can go one step further: we can make libraries civic innovation centers. That means transforming them into active spaces where citizens work together to solve local problems, grow ideas, and build stronger communities. Here are three simple but powerful ways to do this: 1. Host Community-Led Problem-Solving Events Many cities and towns face common challenges—unemployment, food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or poor digital access. What’s often missing is a neutral space where people can come together and think creatively about solutions. This is where the library comes in. Libraries can host regular “Civic Hackathons,” “Idea Labs,” or “Solution Circles.” These are not just for tech people. A solution circle, for example, can be as simple as a group of locals, librarians,...
Read more

How Important is Proper Document Control in ISO Accreditation?

If your organization is working toward ISO accreditation—or trying to maintain it—you’ve probably heard the phrase document control more times than you care to count. But before your eyes glaze over, let’s break it down. ISO standards (like ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, or ISO 27001 for information security) are built on the idea of consistency, traceability, and accountability. None of that works without proper documentation. And documentation doesn’t stay proper on its own. It needs structure. That’s where document control comes in. So, how important is it? In short: it's everything. What Is Document Control in the ISO Context? Document control refers to how an organization manages its critical documents—such as procedures, manuals, forms, and records—so that they are: Correct (the latest version) Accessible (to the right people) Secure (from unauthorized changes) Traceable (who approved, changed, or accessed them)...
Read more

Being a Document Control Officer to Manage Archives: Are You the Office Librarian?

In many workplaces, there's someone who seems to know where everything is. They can pull up the latest policy revision, retrieve an outdated client file, or point you to that mysterious "blue folder" from three years ago that somehow still matters. This person may not wear glasses or whisper "shhh"—but in essence, they are the office librarian . In most cases, this role falls to the Document Control Officer . But what does being a Document Control Officer really mean? And how close is it to being the keeper of a corporate library? Let’s unpack it. What Is a Document Control Officer? A Document Control Officer (DCO) is responsible for managing how documents are created, reviewed, stored, accessed, and archived within an organization. In many cases, the DCO is the quiet force behind regulatory compliance, internal consistency, and institutional memory. In short, if your company ever says, “We have a paper trail,” the DCO is why. Their duties typically incl...
Read more

Simple Way to Ask Library Users to Rate the Library Service

  Library users do not always share their thoughts on how the librarian or school can improve their library service. In fact, some won't ever, unless prompted. Soliciting their thoughts using a suggestion box is also not as good a strategy as it is predicted to be. After all, the blank piece of paper near the suggestion box doesn't really guide the user. I also noticed that users would only use the suggestion box if they have a complaint, but not if they just want to go about their business and leave.  There must be a more pro-active way to solicit users' opinion.  A simple solution would be to offer a short survey to measure how successfully users were able to complete some common activities in the library. This assessment uses the Likert scale, which is typically a five, seven, or nine-point agreement scale used to measure respondents' agreement with various statements. For example, the scale can range from "very unsuccessful" to "very successful."...
Read more

Let us Teach Kids How to Become Lifelong Learners

  Lifelong learning is a journey that shapes who we are and who we become. It’s not just about formal education; it’s about embracing curiosity, the desire to grow, and the drive to understand the world better. For children, this journey begins with reading. Teaching kids to read isn’t just about helping them understand words on a page—it’s about unlocking a lifetime of possibilities. The Foundation of Learning       Reading is the key to all learning. When a child learns to read, they don’t just grasp language—they unlock the ability to explore any subject, from science to history to art. It’s a tool that helps them understand complex ideas, fuels their imagination, and gives them the confidence to tackle challenges. Reading is the doorway to knowledge, and by teaching kids to read, we give them the tools to explore the world with curiosity and independence. Reading Builds Confidence        As kids become better readers, they gain confidence...
Read more

Competitive Studying Pros and Cons

The academic landscape has evolved into a competitive arena where students vie for top grades, scholarships, and prestigious university placements.  This phenomenon, known as "competitive studying," has become a cultural norm, especially in societies that place a high value on educational achievement. But is this mindset beneficial or detrimental to students' overall well-being and future success? This blog post delves into the intricacies of competitive studying, examining its pros and cons, and evaluating the long-term payoffs. The Genesis of Competitive Studying The concept of competitive studying isn't new; it has roots in various educational systems worldwide. In countries like South Korea and Japan, the competition starts as early as kindergarten. In Western societies, the SATs, ACTs, and university admissions have become the modern-day gladiatorial arenas. The driving forces behind this trend include societal expectations, parental pressure, and the increasing ...
Read more

The Simplest Way to Commute to La Union From Manila

Traveling from Manila to La Union might sound daunting, but it's actually quite straightforward. Whether you're seeking the famous surf spots of San Juan or the historic charm of San Fernando, getting there is a breeze. Here’s how you can make your journey as smooth as possible: take a bus. The simplest and most common way to get to La Union from Manila is by bus. Several bus companies operate routes to various destinations in La Union, making it convenient and affordable. Bus Companies that Travel Daily to La Union from Manila and Vice Versa Most of the buses that head north have branches in Cubao (northern part of NCR) and Pasay (southern part of NCR). Note that all buses going to Vigan, Abra, and Laoag will pass by La Union, so it doesn't matter if the sign does not say "La Union." There's a reason our province is called the gateway to the north. Partas Transportation Co. : One of the most popular choices, Partas offers comfortable and reliable services. Th...
Read more