Librarian Mothers

I grew up with a librarian mother. Bosom friends know too well how my mother influenced me to become like her, a librarian. Though she steered me to the path of corporate librarianship, I found my bearing on school and children's library service. As to that, I credit my other mother in the profession for showing me the possibility of growing in this track of librarianship. Dr. Mary Orendain of the PNU University Library is my role model. You might wonder who then is my inspiration to pursue ICT in application to school library services. She is none other than Dir. Lou David of the Rizal Library of the Atene De Manila.

I have written a post about my mothers in life and in librarianship a few years back when my blog was barely a year old. Check it here if you wish.

I remember them again with fondness and honor because they have made their presence felt this month of mothers and flowers in my very busy and complicated lifestyle. I take it as a reminder to go slow; to pause; and to examine my priorities.

Dr. Orendain visited me yesterday to personally deliver a token. I was touched by the gesture. So, I returned the respect she deserve by giving her a tour of our library and buying her something in return. Not too much of an amount but enough to let her know that I appreciated her going out of the way to see me. Talk of the present and future status of school librarianship in the country was inevitable. She encouraged me to finish my graduate degree in time for an opening to teach at PNU. Before she left, she reminded me that we must work on a book project together.

Move two weeks earlier and you would have found me at the Rizal Library paying a courtesy call to Dir. David. She was her usual unselfish self. The IL Module for the 11 Public Schools in Quezon City is nearly done. All that's left is its implementation. It was a project she began two years ago and I wa sone of the witnesses to its conception. She lent me some materials that she knew would be very helpful to my advocacy.

In the middle of May, I received text messages from my mother raving about the talk that she attended. She just had an insightful morning with our school director as part of an in-service training session provided for new administrators in her new job. In our exchange of SMS, I was affirmed how lucky I am to be in Xavier School. I am now beginning to see a different perspective to my job as middle level manager. Her advice gave me sanity. We may have our own differences in life and in librarianship, but she will always be my mother.

In time, I will assume a colleague level with Dr. Orendain and Dir. David. But, just like my own mother, they will remain my teachers forever.

IASL Matters

With my membership renewed in IASL, I'm now eligible to vote for the new set of officers. Dr. Diljit Singh and James Henri are both in the running for IASL President. Both have been to Manila to help with projects on IL and school library development. I'm positive that whoever gets elected will continue on with the progressive means by which IASL delivers support for school librarians all over the world.

The newsletter that IASL sent provides information on all candidates. Gerry Brown's article on his visit here in Manila was also included as well as pictures of wonderful Filipino Librarians he interacted with. For this year's annual IASL conference in Taipe, IT and School Libraries take the limelight with the theme, Cyberspace, D-World, E-Learning : Giving Libraries and Schools the Cutting Edge.

For more infromation on the conference visit the IASL website.

CPE & Professional Standards for Librarians

Last April 18, in a seminar sponsored by the
PLAI STRLC, Prof. Cora Nera discussed the history, context and issues surrounding the Continuing Professional Education for Librarians. It was to me a very interesting point of discussion because, the CPE would ensure a high level of professionalism among librarians. It would inspire and motivate librarians to become learners for life. This would implicate that librarians are a valuable professional in the community and to the society at large.

There was, however, a silent disquiet among the participants when the list of requirements was presented. It seemed impossible to attain only if a librarian considered herself a technician, a clerk or a paraprofessional. The work and expectations in the list are being done by professional librarians already. It is only a matter of time for one to organize and define the required task to meet the standard.

Speaking of standards, it was good to know that library groups were able to identify and articulate professional standards. The school library standards, however, is in a state of dissonance. Public school librarians and private school librarians differ in their perception of roles and responsibilities. How then can the divide be narrowed?

Library Customer Care

From friends in the PNU LISAA. Their seminar is a few months away so there is enough preparation time. Below is the list of Board Members and Offocers

Dear Colleagues:

Greetings from the Association!

PNU-LISAA, Inc. invites you to a 2-day seminar-workshop on LIBRARY CUSTOMER CARE on August 14-15, 2007 at the Library Conference Room, Edilberto P. Dagot Hall, Philippine Normal University.

The Association aims to: introduce customer care to the library profession; encourage all to utilize accepted customer care models in the practice of the library profession; and enrich the customers’ library experience while handled by the library personnel and other information professionals. Topics will include (1) professional care across all services; (2) marketing brands and library customer care models; (3) library customer care as an institutional marketing tool; and (4) enriching the customers' library experience.

This invitation is open to all and will entail a fee of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 2,500.00) which will cover seminar kits, handouts, certificate of participation, certificate of appearance, snacks and lunches.

Reservation with partial payments of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 1,500.00) on or before July 15, 2007 enjoys a ten-percent discount. For payments and other inquiries, please email any officer of the Association.

Thank you very much.

Truly yours,

RODERICK B. RAMOS (Signed)
Vice President/Conference Chair

Noted by:

ESTELA A. MONTEJO (Signed))
President

Council of Advisers: Dr. Linda M. Tayona, Prof. Miguel Cobaria, Prof. Ruben Marasigan and Dr. Mary A. Orendain

Estela A. Montejo, President, Ateneo De Manila University, Loyola Heights, QC (emontejo@ateneo. edu)
Roderick B. Ramos, Vice-President, Philippine Normal University, Manila (pnureferencelib@ yahoo.com)
Noemi Cabantog, Treasurer, St. Paul College, Pasig (noemi_cabantog@ yahoo.com)
Marifi E. Navarro, Secretary, Elizabeth Seton School, Las Pinas City (marifi77@yahoo. com)
Marites K. Chavez, PRO, Congressional National High School, Dasmarinas, Cavite (mvkc1015@yahoo. com)
Antonio Resurreccion, Auditor, Xavier School, San Juan, Metro Manila (tonyr@xs.edu. ph)

Board Members:
Jocelyn L. Ladlad, De La Salle University, Manila (ladladj@dlsu. edu.ph)
Consuelo Estigoy, Araullo University, Cabanatuan City (cjestigoy@yahoo. com)
Lorenza D. Oliveros, College of Veterinary Medicine, UP Los Baños, Laguna (lorenz_ph@yahoo. com)
Joy Perez, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, Ayala Alabang Village (perezjm@zobel. dlsu.edu. ph)
Medina De Castro, Ex-officio, Sta. Isabel College, Manila (mdecastrous@ yahoo.com)

Alitaptap Poster Design Contest

Here's a little push for friends in Alitaptap.

We are once again seeking assistance from illustrators who are willing to provide us illustrations for poster designs to be used in our storytelling competitions for 2007. We are launching this search through a small poster design competition opened to all illustrators.

Here are the details of the design contest. Please email if you need more info. Thanks for your interest in joining. We are excited to see your entries.

Guidelines:
1. You may submit as many entries as you want.
2. Poster theme should be included in the design.
3. Submit artwork – layout must be digital, layered, photoshop, corel, freehand, illustrator. 300dpi resolution, size must be 18x24 inches.
4. Contents of the poster is attached. If you received this through a forwarded message, you may ask for info from alitaptap_storytellers@yahoo.com.
5. Actual poster size is 18 x 24 so the texts in the poster may be adjusted to make them proportionate to the poster size.
6. Included in the design are:

For our general poster. Theme: "Pag Binasa ni Tatay, Mga Kuwento'y Nabubuhay."

Must have a father holding a book while telling a story to his kid(s) in a place of illustrator's choice.

For our Inter-College Competition:
Must include a standing teenage guy/girl holding a book while telling a story to a group of kids.

Four our Children's Competition:
Must include a standing little boy/girl holding a book while telling a story to a group of kids with some adults.

CD copy of design must be submitted to:

Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines
c/o Melanie Abad-Ramirez
The National Library of the Philippines
TM Kalaw, Metro Manila

Deadline for submission: June 4, 2007.

From the entries, we will select one design for each competition.

The winner is expected to make all necessary changes, revisions, etc. for the production of the poster.

Prizes:

1. Name of Artist as Grand Prize Winner of 2007 Alitaptap Poster Design Competition shall be included in the poster design.
2. The winner will receive P3,000 in cash. P2,000 shall be awarded upon announcement. And the balance of P1,000 shall be awarded after the completion of the printing of the poster.
3. An Alitaptap medallion shall be awarded to the winners during the Grand Finals of the Inter-College Competition.

New POWERBOOKS Branches

For all book lovers and bibliophiles, there are two new branches of Powerbooks you can visit.

Book Talk

A school library has many roles and functions. The promotion of books and reading is one of these. The librarian in this case, becomes a teacher who bridges literacy and the tools necessary for its acquisition to students. Furthermore, she assumes a collaborative role as teaching partner of the classroom teacher. In the process, support for the teaching and learning process is forged between teacher and librarian.

Since techniques and strategies abound when it comes to the promotion of books and reading, Book Talks, are by far the easiest to do. It is simple, quick and resources to implement it are very accessible in the library. Books are, after all, always available in the library.

To start a book talk session, you need to prepare yourself by reading good books suitable for your intended audience. Other library resources can be “talked” about though, so do not limit the opportunity with books alone. Denise Johnson (2003) provides these basic tips:

1. Select one or more books to share. When teachers share more than one book, the books are usually related in some way: they may be part of a text set, written by the same author, or on a related topic.

2. Plan a brief presentation for each book. During the one- to two-minute presentation, the presenter tells the title and author of the book and gives a brief summary, and then explains why they liked it and why students might be interested in it. The teacher may also read a short excerpt and show an illustration.

3. Display the books. Presenters show the book during the book talk and then display it on a chalk tray or shelf to encourage students' interest.

Take note that Book Talks are not exclusive for teachers to do. The library at lunch time or dismissal is filled with students eager to read or while away the time. Invite them for circle groups to discuss new books or old favorites. Energize your Readers' Services by conducting Book Talks.

Library Linkages

It's going to be a happy day today depsite of the stifling heat this morning.

I got an email from Prof. Melissa Alma Orencia of the PNU, RAP Secretray and literacy advocate, regarding recommned books for children. What made it so was that, she referred me to a public library in Taipe who seems earnest at building a children's library collection representative of the diverse cultures in the continent. What better way to do so but stock up with the prouce of chidlren's books from the different countries in Asia!

So I gave her links from the PBBY website since Neni SR Cruz and I wrote about our favorite books there. Likewise, I was prompted to continue writing book reviews and annotated bibliographies on the available Filipiniana for children. With the promise of organizing this blog, I told the good professor to keep visiting since it will forge linkages between libraries as well as cultures too.

Also, our school director sent AHON Foundation's letter regarding a book donation project. Dubbed as Book Drive School Competition that will run from July 2-31, 2007, private schools are enjoined to raise books donations as many as they can. Winners will be awarded trophies and Time Life Books.

Now I wonder what will happen to the books that AHON will give to public schools when most are devoid of a library personnel. Sure, teachers are there to bring kids closer to books. They can teach reading, besides. But librarians can help fortify the links between books to kids and teachers to students. I still have to see a foundation that will support the training and development of librarians and library personnel. This is, of course, only a part of the whole library and literacy development scenario. The point is, librarians are more important than the book collection of a library.

Live Blogging @ Apple Camp : Podcast Using Garage Band

I jus finished a voice recording in Garage Band. After uploading to iTunes, I went to Ning.com and have it uploaded there too. I can't get the conversion code for html tag yet so it will be in a while till my first post on a podcast that I made. I was able to take pictures of myslef though. It's so vain of me to post here, but I can't help myself!



Dreamy me. Fascinated at the sophisticated software by Apple. My mind is racing at the many ways Apple can do to help the teacher deliver his lessons. iMacs in the library? Hmm...






A little bit confused here. I'm on my way to geekdom!

For the past two days, we've been immersed in Apple-landia. As in all journeys, one closes and the next unfolds. It is what lies ahead that is a far greater challenge.

Live Blogging @ Apple Camp : Comic Life

Our project for this morning is a comic strip using Comic Life. Here are the projects made by my coteachers. Can you guess which is mine?

Live Blogging @ Apple Camp : Web 2.0

Blogs were created this morning. SLIA had a major make over. I joined a new social/learning network powered by Ning. Junior Tan is looking for teachers he can recommend to join the Apple Distinguished Educator conference in Singapore. It's been a high tech morning and right after lunch, we talked about Web 2.0.

By showing a variety of online communities, blogs and teacher-student created websites, Junior Tan explianed the evolution of the web into a more interactive and engaging learning tool.

Live Blogging : Apple Camp @ Xavier School

I'm blogging live from our Apple Training session with Junior Tan of Apple (Asia). Since last year, Xavier School has partnered with Apple to enrich our instructional technology program with iMacs. A series of training sessions were given the Chinese Teachers last school year to infuse their Chinese classes with computer based and web enhanced teaching strategies. The school is stretching its initiatives to include content area teachers and librarians too.

Now he is asking participants to create an account in Blogger. We're all using the spankingly new iMacs in the school's iMac Lab and he has allowed me to use SLIA for the exercise. Major changes soon on template and design!

John Shelley & SCBWI

It is not everyday that a librarian gets a voucher. Beaulah Taguiwalo of SCBWI Philasis sent this via email and I feel so, privileged. It's not entirely free, but it sure made my day.

Visit John Shelley's website here. Get to know more of SCBWI Philasia and the people behind it by visiting their website here.

Writing for Kids Workshop

Writing for Kids Workshop
May 26, 2007 at 1:00 - 5:00 pm
5th Flr. Robinson's Galleria Corporate Center
Php 500.00 workshop fee inclusive of materials

One of those blog things from Blogthings

I don't normally do this in SLIA, but it complements my current state of being so I'm putting it right here. Try it! Lighten up a bit. Loose that hair from the tight bun.

You Are the Ego

You take a balanced approach to your life. You definitely aren't afraid to act out on your desires - even crazy ones. But you usually think first. Morals drive you as much as hedonism does. You've been able to live a life of pleasure... without living a life of excess.

Are You Id, Ego, or Superego?

Book Review: For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom's new book, For One More Day, is yet another heartwarming, endearing and feel good novella for all the optimists and the little Ms. Sunshines out there. It is the story of Chick Benetto, a one-time baseball great who failed miserably in life but found salvation in a near death experience.

Attempting suicide one night, he found himself in between worlds - one leading to the after life, the other to the one he intended to leave behind. Sandwiched in this terminal between life and death, he met his mother in the very house he grew up in and for one more day, he discovered answers to questions that long bothered his unstable, if not unhappy life.

Albom once again proved that he is a master at ceating stories from snapshots of real life people. With his belief on the importance of family and human relationships, he strikes a homerun with this one as he combines true to life stories of people he knew and that of his own family members. This has become his trademark though. If not for his excellent craft at writing, he is already predictable since he has done this strategy in Tuesday's with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

In his earlier novellas, he was full of pathos and vulnerability that his readers bleed along with his characters. Catharthic, as it is called and it is the same with For One More Day. However, I find Heaven better than this new offering because, its appeal is more intriguing and wonder bound. The idea that one can choose his own heaven amazed me. If that is the case, I am not afraid to die since it may lead me to the many heavens awaiting me along with the people I will be meeting to help me find the meaning of my own life. Death is indeed, the next great adventure (Albus Dumbledore, HP 1 The Sorcerer's Stone, 1997).


Then again, one need not die to find his own heaven. It can actually be a place on this earth where toil and trouble do exist. After all, like Eddie, we all are put in a place where we are needed the most; where we are most happy. That place becomes our own heaven on this earth.

Chick Bennetto did find his reason-de-etre through his mother who never gave up on him. A mother holds the thread that binds a family, but a son will always need a father no matter how great his mother is.

For One More Day may be an engaging and touching book, but Albom can do better next time. What with Heaven and Morrie beating One More Day in terms of depth and universal theme.

RAP Annual Summer Convention 2007

The RAP Annual Summer Convention 2007 ended last April 28, 2007 with a great big sigh from convention chair, Dina Ocampo of the UP Reading Department. It had 480 participants, the biggest so far, and along with it came a hundred problems too. Like anything else in life, when the end comes, you only remember the good ones and the shinning moments of its existence. Unless you are a pessimist, you'd linger on the guilt, the mistakes, and the little faults. RAP Officers, as I was made to see in those two days were not made of that stuff.

Over all, it was a very good conference where in teachers, administrators and educators convened and experienced how theory, research and practice are put into play. How I wish Filipino Librarian Associations can adapt the same format for a conference. The last I heard of plenaries and con-current sessions done by PLAI was two or four years back.

The field of Library and Information Science is ever expanding, ever evolving. Research on the profession and the practice of it must be shared with others, librarian or not. Imagine what Filipino Librarians can learn from research so that theories are tested and questioned, thus, professional practice is improved. In my opinion, we are not there yet. We still patronize one-man seminars and talks. Nothing wrong there since we are getting the best resource speakers in our field of specialization, but, we need to be more scholarly by reading, knowing and listening to research and best practices done by other librarians.

It is amazing how the RAP has networked with IRA so seamlessly in the past years that the investment is paying off. Having the VP of IRA, Barbara Walker, was very beneficial to all present. She gave new perspectives to the teaching and study of comprehension. Her presence was inspiration to those who are "there" and motivation to those who are "striving" to be.

On a perosnal level, I enjoyed the convention. I even got to chair a session on children's literatture to my delight! It is so good to listen to two professionals give their results and study on gender issues on Filipiniana published books for kids. Some research presentations are familiar that it enriched existing knowledge and content base. I believe that, as a school librarian, I have to always be reminded of my connection to the discipline and the art of teaching. It is not enough that I know and do the work of a librarian. It is necessary to know the langauge and the craft of the people I work with becuase there lies the root of collaboration.

Hudhud Epic for Kids by the NCCA

Two new children's books have been published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to teach children about the Ifugao epic, Hudhud.

Pumbakhayon and Halikpon are retellings of two episodes from the epic which is usually chanted by the Ifugao people in Cordillera while harvesting rice. Both books are written by Mae Astrid Tobias, with illustrations by Jose Miguel Tejido, and translated into Ifugao by Maribelle Bimohya.

Pumbakhayon is the story of how the mythical figure Pumbakhayon passed on the different epics to the Ifugao people. Halikpon, on the other hand, is the love story of Bugan and Aliguyon.

“This book on tales of the Ifugao Chant, Hudhud, is designed for the child so that he will grow into the adult person that is envisioned to be steeped in the culture of his people, the Ifugao,” says anthropologist Dr. Jesus Peralta in his foreword. Dr. Peralta is the Project Director of Safeguarding and Transmission of the Hudhud Chants of Ifugao, a three-year project of the NCCA to promote awareness and appreciation of Ifugao heritage.

NCCA will distribute free copies of the books to Ifugao schoolchildren.
For more information, please contact Cecil or Min, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. Tel. No. 527-4434 or 527-2192.