Filipino Librarians of the Month: The DepEd Calamba Library Hub Librarians (2 of 2)

Last Tuesday, December 16, 2014, Elinor Hemedes answered some questions about her work in the DepEd Library Hub System. This time, the blog features Myra Ortega, Elinor's partner and friend. Myra had been very persistent in inviting me to come over for a talk/training session. At last, we were able to squeeze in a schedule for this training despite a very tight calendar. I suppose we need more librarians like Myra who perseveres until she succeeds!

Myra is seated at the right. Beside me is Elinor.

1. Why did you decide to work in the DepEd library hub system? 

Security wise, I opted to grab my chance of being a member of DepEd family. I also aspired to become one. I want to help pupils and promote the love of reading. Luckily Library  Hub is a unique project of DepEd to and everything that I used to do when I was in the private institution made me realize that I have a great part of improvement and development in my present work.

2. What are the challenges you face in managing the library hub? How do you overcome these challenges?

Library hub supervision alone is really a big challenge on my part, I take it positively and I apply what I have learned in library management. I don’t see that manning the library alone is a hindrance to meet my goal.

3. What are the success stories you have so far? 

This Reading Month celebration, we invited day care centers to visit the Library Hub. We conducted storytelling. Our teachers attended such including pupils who won storytelling contest last school year base on cluster competition. Such activity may promote an essential aspect of the Library Hub and we extend the services we offer not only for public schools but to the community as well.

The Division of Calamba leads the Reading Month celebration thru competition of different category that aims to continue promoting the Every Child A Reader program, make every Filipino child a competent reader and writer and instill the love of reading among Filipino readers.

Filipino Librarians of the Month: The Deped Calamba Library Hub Librarians

L-R Elinor, Zarah and Myra

Last October, I was at the Deped Calamba Library Hub for a training session on reading activities among teachers of the Calamba public school system. This reading session came after my three day stint at the 6th Rizal Library International Conference. Organized by two librarians, Elinor Hemedes and Myra Ortega, the reading session went on smoothly to the delight of the participants.

I did not lecture nor presented theories that are way too big since they all came from a week long training session by the DepEd. We just read and talked about what we read about. The teachers felt relaxed. One of the participants said, "Bitin ang training, ma'am." (The training is too short).

But at the session's core are Elinor and Myra who work together in the Deped Library Hub system of Calamba, Laguna. Both afforded me an interview for the blog. Here are Elinor's answers to the interview questions.

1. Why did you decide to work in the DepEd library hub system?

I have decided to work in DepEd because I can't let this kind of opportunity pass. Also, I wanted to experience managing this unique kind of library system.

2. What are the challenges you face in managing the library hub? How do you overcome these challenges?

The main challenge that we face in managing the hub is increasing our borrowers, only few schools are patronizing our hub. To overcome this we seek support from our schools' division management team. We also plan our activities that will highlight the services of the hub. So far, we promoted the hub by organizing a training for the teacher librarians. We hope that through the training they were able to see the hub as a reading center. The hub books were also used during the storytelling contest for the reading month. Through this teachers were able to visit the hub and utilize our collection.

3. What are the success stories you have so far?

The pupils enjoy the library visit and participating in reading activities. The hub offers fun filled activities such as storytelling and word games. They were enthusiastic when they get to choose the books they want to read during their DEAR time. And lastly, successfully organizing a training for teacher librarians for the whole division of Calamba city, then receiving lots of positive feedback from the participants after [is an accomplishment].