Filipino Librarian of the Month: Jay Diola

The blog's Filipino Librarian of the Month is none other than, Mr. Jay Diola who is the new school library head of the De La Salle Zobel Learning Resource Center. In this blog interview, Jay shares the adjustment he needed to do to transition into the role of a library manager. A year after, he needed to transition the entire school library into the new normal as COVID-19 forced the closure of schools and campuses. He offers tips for school librarians who are coping through the pandemic and encourages everyone in the profession to continue sharing content, knowledge and expertise.

1.     Kamusta, Bossing? How has it been for you as library manager?

Hello Ms. Zarah!

How am I at this time of the pandemic? Ok naman po, gaya nga ng sabi at termino ng mga millennials “FIGHTING”.

As a new library manager, it is truly challenging but I am coping and still learning. It’s my second year as the library head of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ). I could say that my first year was really a period of adjustment since it’s my first time to lead the center. I was thinking that I’ll get the hang of it in my 2nd year but fortunately or unfortunately, COVID pandemic came.

As DLSZ shifted to Online Distance Learning (ODL), my 2nd year turned out to be another year of more adjustments. At first, I couldn’t imagine how we can implement LRC library projects and activities. How can we do that? This is something new to all of us and very different from the usual tasks of most librarians. Everything we do and implement is experimental and a great learning experience. Fortunately, I am just blessed to have a wonderful team of library personnel. The DLSZ-LRC Team is really helping me out at these challenging times and I am truly grateful for them.

As a library manager, I believe that one of the most important components to be successful  is to be able to lead a community of proactive members who, together, develop good chemistry to create a strong strategic plan for the unit. 

2. Please give 5 tips for surviving and thriving in this new normal. The contest is school library work.

I will use the name of one of my favorite story tellers for the tips on how to survive the new normal. It's SARAH.

First, S stands for STUDY. (Online) Distance Learning is something new to all of us, there is no manual to follow so you need to keep on learning. We need to study and learn new skills, new apps, and new approaches to deliver various library services.

Second, A for ADOPT. The basic rule of survival is adaptation. Blend with the situation and adjust the library services to the new normal. Don’t hold back to try out new things to improve the services.

The third is R, RELAX. Calm down, don’t panic.  Librarians are resourceful. We are trained to find solutions to every problem. They say, a relaxed mind is a creative mind.

Fourth, ALWAYS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Be creative in delivering your services. Always think of new and exciting ways to assist the library users. Don’t hesitate to try out new things. It’s the new normal way of getting the work done.

And the lastly, H which stands for HELP. Help each other out. If you find something that you think will benefit others, share it. If you need help, reach. There are a lot of people who are more than willing to assist you. So, those are my 5 SARAH tips for you.

3. What is the principle behind the Librarians Tambayan? How has it helped the DLSZ Community and Filipino School Librarians?

The Librarians’ Tambayan is a YouTube channel created to provide a venue for posting online content for people in the field of librarianship. I find it ironic that there’s no library specifically for librarians but we have special libraries for lawyers, medical personnel and other professions. At the start of the pandemic, I received a lot of queries from other librarians regarding content creation and online resources. That made me think of creating a channel where librarians could find online content that they could use in their schools and can submit their own creation for posting. It's a virtual space where we can share our materials for library instructions and resources.

A similar channel is created to serve our Lasallian community. Basically, the main idea of the channel is to help each other. The values taught by our founder, St. John Baptist De La Salle- faith, service and communion inspired me and the LRC team to find ways to be of service to the entire Filipino librarians’ community. As a humble librarian- servant, I’m calling all other  librarians to join us- contribute online content to the Librarians Tambayan.

Last August 15, Jay Diola and his library staff gave a talk and shared current practices that are in place during the time of COVID-19. A webinar sponsored by PASLI and Regalo Touching Lives, The Library At Your Fingertips: Planning and Developing School Library Programs in the New Normal, the video is available on YouTube.

The Lighthouse Diary Entry #22: Getting Ready for Academic Year 2020

It seemed like ages ago since my last post on the work I do in the Beacon Academy along with some reflections and insights gathered from professional practice. A lot has happened. I don't really know where to begin. For one, when school ended in June 3, 2020 with an amazing and grace filled graduation rites, summer passed by like a blur. We were planning on Learner Playlists a few days after graduation and just yesterday, we have set directions as to how we will begin with this learning commons.

Work from home is exhausting. But I am grateful to have friends and companions in this new adventure. I just learned how to synchronise my Google Calendar with Calendly. Posted the link to my email for easy access to bookings and consultation schedules. Embedded the html code of the calendar in the library Google Site I made last week. And I thank my colleagues and friends of this new found knowledge of this productivity tool. While the world grapples with a new reality, we, teachers and educators carry on. Our expectations on how learning looks like have changed but our level of competence and resilience did not. I smile as I write this entry realising how tenacious the human spirit can be in the face of unprecedented change.

So, I end this short post with a video that our Student Council asked each one of the faculty to record. This is for the yearly Foundation Days at the Academy. Where do I get this positive feeling at a time of chaos and uncertainty? I take it as a grace give and received.

BA Library Online: Hashtags

One platform we use in the Academy to communicate and connect with each other is Workplace. It is there where our Head of School initiated a group for the Library. It has been the Library's social media page and in a recent survey, we received positive feedback from teachers. In every post we make, we use hashtags so readers and users can get back to previous posts or make searching a bit easier. Here is an example of the Subject List or Hashtag Guide I made for the community.

Use a hashtag to find your way around BALIB in Workplace. Type a hashtag in the search box and see the results. Updated on Wednesday May 19, 2020.

Everything on BA Library

#BALibAcquisitions for announcements on books and resources acquired regularly

#BALibraryService or #BALibService for all information services by the BA Library, news in and about Biñan, Laguna, the Philippines and beyond

#BALibWebOPAC for updates on PageMaster, our library system in beta

#BALibReadersService for book recommendations and suggestions on teaching resources

#BALibraryOnline for posts on topics about technology and libraries, access to information and online resources

#ReferenceService for print and online reference books and research related posts

#DDC200 for topics on Mythology, Religion and Philosophy

For Online Subscriptions

#TheDayAdvisory for navigating your way through The Day

#EBSCOHostAdvisory for navigating your way through EBSCO

 #WBO or #WorldBookWednesday for navigating your way through World Book Online

#Pathfinder for the content and resources compiled and curated by BA Teacher Librarian specifically for units of study and topics taken up in the classroom

Living and Learning in BA

If you are searching anything about the Beacon Academy and it is posted in BALIB, use #Griffins, #GoGriffins, #teachinggriffins and #lifeinBA

For topics we regularly post and follow

#AcademicHonesty

#AppNAbout

#artandculture

#ArtsMonth

#BAOnline

#BAOnlineLibrary

#BlendedLearning

#Bibliotherapy

#BinanenseLabansaCOVID19

#BinanenseNews

#BookFlix

#COVID19

#COVID19PH

#CovidComics

The Lighthouse Diary #20: A Vital Support System

Sharing with you, my dear blog readers, my message of love to my learning community in the Beacon Academy.

As we are all easing our way into online learning, leadership providing the framework and protocols for a smooth, if not easy transition and colleagues helping each other out, the BA Library will continue to provide access to online resources and support for teachers. Information in the form of curated content (Pathfinders, online directories, etc.) will be shared in Workplace.

By Monday, March 16, 2020, updates in Resource Center for Students in Managebac will be reactivated. I am requesting your help to refer students to this group. It has the basic guide in accessing our online subscriptions.The Resource Center was set up last August 2019. It was presented to students during the orientation. Updates were made every library session I had with MYP students and scheduled consultations with DP students during the 1st term.

The experiences shared by colleagues during the Google Classroom walk-through was both a challenging and inspiring experience. To reference John Dewey, it is in doing that we learn.

To carry on learning Google Classroom and other learning management systems, here are links to MOOCS and webinars, some materials for further reading and tech tips for teachers and students. Send over your feedback and comments. It will develop and enrich what we are co-creating now. Experienced practitioners in edtech and instructional tech have witnessed, timely, meaningful and appropriate feedback makes a big difference in learning online.

So, here we go!

UP Open University Webinar on Google Classroom - you will need to register and make sure your laptop or PC has good speakers for listening to audio-video recordings.

Ateneo Salt Institute 3 Step Guide for Setting Up a Virtual Classroom - the recommended LMS or platforms are Facebook and Schoology. I have tried both and the later is more appropriate for academics. It is more teacher friendly too. Well, the former is more popular and easier to access but, why not try something new once in a while.

Ateneo Salt Institute Guide for Online Learners - if there is a guide for teachers, a student guide is not far behind. This is for reference and a model to look at for building students' confidence, accountability and integrity while learning in a virtual environment.

DoF sent good materials (an article and a checklist) to condition and start us off in online learning over at Academic Team. Here now is a practical guide and tips for instructors transitioning to teaching online. Intended for higher education, the content is applicable for teachers in basic education.

This is all for now. Have a restful weekend. Stay protected. See you online!

Why Libraries? Why Librarians? Why not!

BA Library School Life Presentation from Zarah Gagatiga

The Lighthouse Diary Entry 8: Taking a step backward

Around July last year, I was inspired to star a new blog entry about the work I do in the Beacon Academy. I had seven entries and here is a brief review of each.

Entry 1 - Collaboration and Collaborative Teaching Strategies - where I wrote about the challenges that collaboration entails plus, links to different teaching strategies.

Entry 2 - Desires, Passions and the World's Greatest Need - thoughts on the inspirational talk of Mr. Bobbit Suntay, one of our Board of Trustees and my response: to give a library orientation to our Griffins that deals about library issue I deeply care about. The importance of reading. The role of libraries in this day and age. The aspect of community in library development.

Entry 3 - The Theory of Knowledge Tree - how we responded and tried understanding the fruits of the Palawan Cherry tree that grows in the school campus.

Entry 4 - My Life as a Teacher Librarian - reflection on my roles as teacher librarians. I have been a part of the Beacon Academy community since it started out in the Binan campus (2011). Seven years! I was a different person back then and the roles I hold as teacher librarian has changed too.

Entry 5 - Research and High School Students - reflections on the reference work, readers services and on the counter instruction, direct and indirect.

Entry 6 - Student Made Zines in the Library - stretching the boundaries of school collection development, I am also responsible for the documentation and archiving purposes of students' works.

Entry 7 - Defining Research - more reflections on research. It never ends. Reflection. But it is the Action part that really makes reflection a worthy endeavour.

And now I begin another year of reflections on library work, teaching, research, working with teachers and students. Writing about them gives meaning to this little life I lead. I don't know what topics and issues I will be writing about. In cases like this, I trust my gut.

Life is a box of chocolates, said Forest Gump's mom. I will let life surprise me in all its flavours!

The Lighthouse Diary Entry 7: Reflecting on Learning Experiences on Research

Sharing some reflections I had on the Extended Essay this year, as one EE journey ends and another begins. More on research, really, because I found myself going back and forth to the writing workshop last August with the year 11 students, the work of the Research Committee that needs to be revisited, the IB workshop I recently completed and previous EE experiences.

How do we define research? Does it need definition since it is, for most part a thinking skill that is made visible through a written output? Or something tangible like a project, a module, an art work. I think what I need is to ground the idea or the concept of research into statements or beliefs.

1. Research is asking questions and finding answers. 

2. Research is a process that entails collaboration - not just cooperation and coordination.

3. Research is a conversation.

4. Research is an invitation for you to stand on the shoulders of giants. And this is both an honor and a privilege.

I wonder how my colleagues see research and, in the practice of teaching ATLs, how would a belief or thesis statement on research factor in effective pedagogy.  

Can we introduce the EE as a rite of passage to the juniors when we meet them again on Feb 7, before DP teachers give sessions on subject specific guidelines?

The Lighthouse Diary Entry 4: My Life As A Teacher Librarian

At this juncture in the first term of the school year, I find myself a busier bee. On top of managing a staff and the library's programs, I am also a homeroom adviser. I have six students under my care and mentorship. I am learning a lot from them. How? Well, that would be for another post.

For this post, let me share with you my work list.

Working with teachers, I am a:

1. Sounding board for instructional and pedagogical matters;
2. Brainstorming partner on the use of media and technology;
3. Consultant for resources of all kinds, formats and genre;
4. Teaching partner for research skills instruction;
5. Resource person for community based activities concerning literacy development;

Working with students, I am a:

1. Companion in their research journey;
2. Writing coach;
3. Teacher of skills - critical thinking, information and media literacy;
4. Guide in the digital landscape;
5.  Designer of learning environments and spaces.

Teacher Librarians never go out of style!

Millennials and School Libraries

Sharing with you this PPT by Darrel Marco as presented during the 2017 PASLI Conference in Cagayan De Oro.

How millenials reshape and reinvent the school libraries from Zarah Gagatiga

Library Bulletin Board: The IB Learner Profile and Recommended Books

Because we want to hit two birds with one stone, we combined the IB Learner Profile with book recommendations as our library bulletin board for this semester.

The IB Learner Profile are the core values of all IB authorized school world wide. These values are the qualities that IB School communities aspire to be. IB Learners (including teachers and staff) strive to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced and Reflective.

Using the IB Learner Profile as theme for the bulletin board, we're able to remind ourselves of these values and our aspirations. Our context, being a Filipino school, the Beacon Academy is then rooted in the Filipino culture with a vision of a global and international education.

The IB Learner Profile permeates all aspect of the school, academics, school life, teaching and staff professional development as well as in its alumni and parent relations.

To further build on the development of these aspirations, us, in the library, thought of setting up the bulletin board into a reading recommendation services that has the IB Learner Profile as its anchors. The photo of our bulletin board, as shown above, has the ten IB Learner Profile and book covers of selected books that touch on each profile. We will regularly change the book covers, enjoining students, teachers and faculty to contribute.

A reading community learns. A learning community reads!

From Circulation Reports to Reading Guidance for Grade 9 -12

Towards the end of the 1st semester, my library staff and I looked over the circulation reports of our high school students. The numbers reveal a lot about our relationship with them. There are peaks and valleys on book readership from the last four months and this led us to reflect on the daily operations and readers services we provide for our students.

Studying circulation reports on a regular basis is helpful in the assessment of the library collection, reviewing the program and setting directions vis-a-vis curricular requirements and readers' needs or interest. I am reserving my reflections for another post on that matter. How readership affects and impacts collection development is for a separate discussion.

For now, let me share with you our response to sustain the readership and the habit of reading among our students.

I wrote each of them a letter. A generic one that has a record of the books they have borrowed, how far they have gone with their book quota and suggestions on how the library and its resources can further help them learn and grow. Below are my tips and recommendations:

• Extend your understanding of an author’s life or milieu by reading primary sources like diaries, memoirs, journals, biographies;
• Understand the context of a group of people in a particular time in history by reading personal stories, looking at a collection of photographs, browsing through timelines of world history books;
• Test the veracity of a hypothesis by reading secondary sources like researches and studies done by scientists, mathematicians and experts in the field of the social sciences;
• Look at models, patterns and processes of creation by analyzing case studies, business success stories, how-to-design handbooks, DIY manuals, craft books, art and architecture books;
• Read up on stories about college life, college admission tips, sample essays written by seniors who successfully got in their college of choice.
• Pick up a book on improving writing and research skills or being better at communication for business and social entreprenuership;
• A couple of contemporary fiction, select classics and a book of poetry or two will balance your reading list.

Students who are regular library users responded back right away. The usual suspects borrowed books over the holidays. It remains a challenge for us to entice and offer readers services to the reluctant ones and those who prefer to use another kind or mode of technology. 

Young Adult Library Services: College Talks at the Library

College talks kicked off a few weeks ago in campus.

Our college guidance counselor's favorite venue for college talks is the library. I take this opportunity to collaborate with her by displaying books about college readiness and writing college essays and letters of applications. It helps that our college counselor loves books and reads a lot too! She does not only see the library as a physical space to be used for events.

This simple plan to encourage students to read was hatched a year ago. We both saw the relevance of reading books and how this can greatly help in writing essays. The other aspect of writing like outlining, organization, use of language is being handled by the Language Arts teachers. So, we support each other so that our students are not lost out to sea. This is how we do things in the Beacon Academy.

By putting on display books that matter to our high school students, the library's role as a reosurce center is up on the plate. This way, students can see and preview books to support them on the task of choosing colleges and applying for one. More so, writing that essay! I also whipped up a list of recommended books on the said topic. Apparently, two books were picked out from the display shelf! It works!

Recommended list of books on College Application and Essay Writing

A follow through on this library service would be to lead students and the guidance counselor to World Book Online's Life Skills web portal where young adults can access information on personal financial management, looking for a dorm or boarding house, planning for life after high school, preparing for interviews and considering a gap year. Again, timing is of the essence because using resources need to be strategically planned.


Abangan!

Museo Pambata News: Launch of the Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room

Kuya Jay plays the flute to start us off in storytelling.

Last July 26, 2016, Museo Pambata launched a new exhibit room that completes and complements its literacy and creative development advocacy among children and the young at heart. The Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room was finally unveiled after a year of fundraising, grant seeking, designing the area and planning of activities for it to come alive. Thanks to the ever hopeful and persistent President of Museo Pambata, Nina Lim-Yuson, who did not give up on seeing this exhibit into existence. Her team of intrepid young dreamers followed through: Maricel "Mamu" Montero, Noreen "Tich" Parafina, Conrad Raquel and the rest of the Museo Pambata Museum Guides worked hard to make the room an accessible and attractive feature of the Paglaki Ko Room.

With the launch of the storytelling area, children will know the many uses of language and why books, have an interesting role in creative play and imagination. Writers write stories. Illustrators draw the visuals to shape the narrative into palpable possibilities that lead to the understanding of the stories. Storytellers open up avenues of exploring these two art forms further on. The cycle of creative production comes full circle and the promise of new creative pursuits begins.

Melay Ramirez Abad participates in the storytelling with gusto!

I am honored and humbled to be a part of the six storytellers featured in the exhibit. My work as a school librarian has extended beyond the four walls of the library and into places where more children can access, not just books and stories, but opportunities to dream, to wonder and to take flight. It takes a village to raise a child and greater determination to see them become creative and productive citizens of the world.

L-R: Tich Noreen, Mamu Montero, JK Anicoche, Rey Bufi, Charlot Cachuela,
Teacher Mars, Kuya Bodjie, me and Nina Lim-Yuson

Visit Museo Pambata! Let your children imagine, play and wonder! Bring out the inner child in you!

Filipino Librarian of the Month: Ma. Fatima D. Delfin

Our Filipino Librarian of the month is Ma. Fatima "Phia" D. Delfin. Phia graduated with a Bachelor in Secondary Education degree, major in Library Science at the PNU. In 2008, she earned her Master of Education in Library and Information Science at the same university. She is a librarian of the Makati DepEd Library Hub. 

Read more about her work and the challenges she face as a library hub librarian. Her story is pretty inspiring!

How long have you been working as a Library Hub librarian in the Division of Makati?

I started working on February 2, 2009; it has been 7 years now.  The Division Library Hub is serving the 28 Elementary and 10 Secondary Schools in the Division.  

What challenges do you face and encounter as a Library Hub librarian?

*Provision for New Books.  

Our Hub had the same books since it started its operation in August 2009. 

I often hear the question, “Wala na ba kayong bago libro?!” from teacher-librarians.  The ‘Sawa’ factor might kick in anytime soon.  Though there have been minimal donations from institutions and individuals, I believe it is still not enough to satisfy the need or demand.

There is a provision prohibiting the purchase of books through the MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses)

*School Libraries/Teacher-Librarians Concerns.  

For seven years, I was able to build relationships with the teacher-librarians in each school.  I have heard all their sad stories and difficulties, and sometimes it saddens me that school libraries are always taken for granted.  I believe that supportive administrators always equate to beautiful and functional libraries.

How do you overcome these challenges?

It would be beneficial if you change the way you look at things and to never stop thinking and finding ways to overcome these challenges.   

What are you happiest about your job?  

Just the sight of a child reading makes me extremely happy.

PASLI 38th National Conference: Work Life Balance

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balance pasli38" target="_blank">Worklife balance pasli38 from <strong>Zarah Gagatiga

Conversion and Renewal

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. A saint of conversion, I look upon him to guide me through my own life journeys that are brimming with opportunities for growth and renewal. While this sounds hopeful, it is not struggle free. But there is grace. And  to witness this grace, which comes like a deluge, is enough to restore my faith in myself and in humanity.

I have been reflecting on my work as a school librarian in the Academy. The first two years was a breeze. I know what I need to do and I did it quite well. Evidence of this is the physical and technical structures that I was able to set in place for intellectual growth and personal development. The third year was amazing. Enough said.

On my fourth year, that's where the challenges rolled in. Looking back, I can now say it was something I asked for. And boy, did I get it. Those who dare and risk will never know what hit them. What is the best thing that came out of it? A realization of what I can do and can't; what needs to be done and what battles to pursue; knowing the friends whom I can trust and count on; and getting a better understanding of human nature.


Today, and on wards, I choose to be kind.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!