Filipino Library Consortium: Consortium of the South

The blog’s Filipino Librarians of the month is a consortium. The Consortium of the South awarded its most outstanding librarian of 2018, Ms. Kit Pedrasa of the Lyceum, Calamba Laguna. Apart from this initiative of recognizing the professional excellence of their community members, they also hold workshops and fora, build stronger networks and camaraderie. Know more about them through this interview I had with its current officers.

1. How did COTS begin and why a consortium? 

Consortium of the South was initiated by University of Perpetual Help System (UPHS)-Dalta, Las Piñas in the year 2010. The founding president was Mr. Anthony M. Tamayo of UPHS-Dalta. 

 

It is composed of six (6) member institutions: 

1. University of Perpetual Help System DALTA

2. Southville International School and Colleges

3. San Beda College Alabang

4. Olivarez College

5. Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna

6. PATTS College of Aeronautics

 

To date it has 10 members, Manila Tytana Colleges, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Paranaque, Laguna College of Business Administration, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Calamba.

 

The Consortium was established because there was a need for collaborative ventures between and among schools. It is open to higher education institutions with common and shared interests in providing opportunities

for the advancement of higher education institutions with the goals of raising the achievement of all students and improving quality in higher education. Its essence is to enrich and enhance the other members.

 

2. What services and programs COTS implement that has been successful among its members? Why and how has the service or program successful? 

Libraries or Learning Resource Centers is one of the seven (7) basic elements for twinning, linkages and networking among the members. The library committee intends to boost its presence in academic settings through specific breakthrough programs for library clients. Its goal is to share knowledge and resources among library administrators in the field of library management, assessment and services.

 

Resource Sharing and inter-library loan service (ILL), sharing of best library practices among its members, recognizing outstanding librarians and library personnel of the year and conducting training or workshop for its 

members based on the training need assessment.

 

This program has been successful because member schools is strengthening its resource sharing by providing guidelines on the inter-library loan of resources and services. Student researchers among its members has 

availed this services by visiting and doing research among the CotS member schools.

 

This school year is the 3rd Search for Outstanding Librarian and Library Personnel of the Year. The search was successful, member schools have sent and participated in the search.

 

Sharing of library best practices is continuous. Every meeting the host institution will share at least one library best practice. Member schools are encouraged to do the same activity or library practices.

 

The first library training/workshop has been conducted last April 13 at Manila Tytana Colleges. The training was attended by 15 participants both librarians and library assistant from different member schools. The 

workshop is free for the members. 

 

3. What are the goals of the outstanding library staff and librarian award? 

The search was conducted to empower librarians and library support staff and to develop inspiration, self-confidence and dignity to our profession. 

 

4. What does COTS have for the community in the future?

The CotS library committee will continue to support the library consortium by developing and improving library services and programs. The group will also continue to provide library activities to its librarian and library staff that will make them more efficient, productive and effective CotS library personnel.

To date, COTS does not have a social media account yet. You may get in touch with them through Marife Madronio Tejero of the Manila Tytania College.

Filipino Librarians in the South of Manila

I have had the pleasure of attending three wonderful librarian events in the past three weeks: 1) the conversation with peers on the decision to award the Outstanding Librarian and Library Staff of the Consortium of the South; 2) the Reading Conference at Southville International Schools and Colleges; and 3) the MUNPARLAS Librarians’ Association Incorporated’s (MLAI) Librarians Walk for a Cause, a modelling stint where librarians walked with kids and teens with disabilities. Needless to say, these events are indicative of the active growth and movement of  school librarians in the south of Manila.

Librarians from the Consortium of the South, composed of schools and colleges in Pasay, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Laguna, organized the search for the Outstanding Librarian and Library Staff of the year. This is to recognise librarians and staff who have made valuable contributions to their learning communities. Reading and examining the documents of each candidate, I conclude that these librarians and library staff are of consequence to their learning communities because they are self-starters consciously aware to develop their personal skills and professional competence. During the interview, their confidence in themselves was shinning through and their gratitude to their mother institutions was heart felt. It was one of the toughest judging job I had in a while!

On March 2, I gave a short lecture on digital learning and how the library play an important role in support of digital learners. Organized by the librarians of Southville International School and Colleges, the conference was another experience of professional growth. I may have been the group’s guest speaker, but interacting with participants and organizers was a learning experience for me too. To educate and form learners of the future, we all need to work together. Each of us playing a role and making contributions big and small for the growth  of the profession.

Lastly, the MLAI’s Librarians’ Walk for A Cause was a well received event by librarians and “non-librarians” whom MLAI have partnered with. The fashion show benefits the education if teens with disabilities from the Cradle of Joy Learning Center in Quezon City. Kids and teens walked down the cat walk and the librarians who joined them were all fully dressed in their smart casuals with a smile!

Cheers to everyone! Looking forward to more

events and activities that foster compassion, friendly competition and collaboration!