Love a Librarian: Pinay Librarian in the Land of Auss

Today's Love a Librarian feature is Mrs. Placida Socorro Lim-Limpin. Known to friends and colleagues as Peachy, she is based in Melbourne, Australia working as librarian at a training institute for adult learners. Before Melbourne, she has notable accomplishments in Philippine librarianship. She earned a spot in the Top 10 Licensure Exam for Librarians; was part of the group that organized and founded PNU LISSAA, the alumni association of Library and Information Science students of PNU; wrote a regular article on technology in the Manila Bulletin to mention a few. Peachy has recently been to the country for a paper presentation on cataloging during the 4th Rizal Library International Library and Information Science conference at the Ateneo de Manila University. She may be physically in Australia but the Philippines is in the heart.

For this blog carnival, Peachy preferred to answer all the questions sent to her instead of taking up one and developing it in an essay or reflection. Nonetheless, the result is heartfelt and sincere, like a sister or a dear friend, confiding and sharing life's lessons learned through experience and the living of each meaningful moment.

In response to Zarah’s request, where she sent a list of questions for me to answer, here are some things I don’t mind sharing with you.

What made me stay in the LIS profession and why

I’m a “been there and back again librarian”, having left the confines of a library to teach in an actual classroom and at university at that. But what made me go back to the librarianship was the basic fact that I don’t get to bring home work with me! And that in itself is a great relief.

I tried my hand at writing as well but didn’t want to go full time because it meant long nights and plenty of travels, which I wouldn’t mind if I had no kids to look after. So, yes, the routines of being a librarian, the work that goes with it, and especially the privilege of reading a new book first are my main reasons for staying a librarian.

On the book that changed my life

It’s really nothing profound, but the book that has changed not exactly my life, but my perspective of life is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.

Who is my librarian idol and why

I don’t exactly idolize any librarian but I do have a list of librarians I have high regards for but so as not to offend and risk the relationships I have with those NOT on my list, they shall remain nameless but can be shared privately on request. I know, it’s cheeky! J. Buh, humbug!

 Advise to LIS students especially those who are about to graduate

After graduation and on your first job, you’ll realize that much of the things you’ll find out at work you weren’t taught in library school. Sure you’ve done well in school doesn’t mean you’ll do well at work, too. Because the measures by which you were evaluated at school are so much different to the measures you will be evaluated at work. So start learning to build relationships and to keep these relationships because in the long run, these relationships you have built overtime will be the foundations of a rewarding career and a fruitful life.

PNU LISAA: Keepers of the Flame*

Good morning!

I stand before you today, humbled to be speaking in behalf of the PNU-LISAA, Inc. Among the many qualified and more respected alumni, the association chose someone like me to represent it in this momentous occasion.

The PNU Library Science Department can boast of so many sons and daughters who are more accomplished than I am. In its 50 years of educating and forming future librarians of the nation, it has produced an armada of alumni who are wiser in years of experience. It can be proud of its recent graduates who are sturdier and more resilient in the face of professional challenges and personal trials. Compared to them, I am merely a beginner who is carving a niche in the ever-changing landscape of library and information science. I did not graduate with honors. Nor did I make it to the top 10 of the Librarians’ Licensure Examination. But here I am, nevertheless, tasked to give an inspirational message. Indeed, to be doing this in front of my former mentors and teachers is an honor. I feel that I am now a colleague. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for this recognition. So I take this great opportunity as a way of giving back to PNU in general and to remember the glory, golden and shinning, of the PNU LIS Department in particular.

By looking back and remembering, we can define the future. After all, the past, the present and the future exist in one plane. To lose the connection between the three would mean a loss of direction.

Allow me now to look back. And, I invite you to do the same. Get a pen and a piece of paper and together, let us chart our past so it can propel us to set directions for the future.

Divide your paper in four columns. Each column represents a year in college – Freshman Year; Sophomore Year; Junior Year; and Senior Year. Write them down.

Now, fold your paper lengthwise. On the first row, write the “highs” that you experienced as a student of LIS in PNU. On the second row, write the “lows” that you encountered as a student of LIS in PNU. Your highs and lows can be about the curriculum, the teachers, the class activities and projects, extra-curricular activities, practicum, support from friends and classmates, etc. Let us work on our paper for five to seven minutes and then we will have small buzz groups.

(After five-seven minutes…)

Turn to a seatmate and share. You can also form a group of three people.

(After five minutes…)

Let us now generalize. Try to go back to your paper. Recall things that struck you in your buzz group. At the back of your paper, write down insights you’ve derived from our short activity.

Can we have one or two brave souls to share his or her insight in the big group?

Volunteer 1 –
Volunteer 2 –

(At this point speaker can share her highs and lows…)

Thank you for your generosity and openness in participating in our little activity this morning. The highs and the lows that you wrote on your piece of paper is a constructed meaning of what the PNU LIS was, is and will be. Some of these experiences maybe delightful, relevant, earth- shaking, painful, frustrating, stressful, elating, humbling and life affirming. Whatever these highs and lows are, it should be enough to move the PNU LIS Department into the next 10 to 50 years.

To channel new directions and to establish new paradigms can not be done by one entity alone. It would take a communal effort to achieve this – support from the university administration, a competent faculty and staff (combination of the young and the seasoned), updated and relevant learning resources, a curriculum that empowers and answers the needs of the learner and his environment, the political will and inner strength to change for the better – these are but some of the ingredients necessary to chart pathways for the PNU LIS Department in the next three or five decades. In the process, there will be discussions, discourse, dialogues and even debates. There are factors both internal and external that will affect the structuring or realigning of things. There will be roadblocks too, for how can we face the realities of change when, as Filipinos, we take things always, on a personal matter. Then again, we are Filipinos, and we will endure.

Like many of you, I hope to see the torch light burning bright as the PNU LIS Department continues to guide aspiring librarians to a promising tomorrow. It does not end with hoping and seeing though. As an alumnus, it is my personal responsibility to carry the torch, ablaze and aflame. PNU LISAA as an alumni organization is a keeper of the flame. We all have a part to play. We all have a contribution to make. We all need tough love and sacrifice to nurture the torch’s fire.

I ask you now, how do you keep the torch’s flame from flickering? How can we all keep the torch’s flame alive?

To end, I would like to sing PNU’s Alma Mater song – I will sing it once, but on the second round, please join me.

Oh Alma Mater ko
Sa Mga Guro’y Ina
Dalay Ilaw
Sadyang Tanglaw
Lagi Kang Patnubay
Ng Bayan Ko Kailan Pa man
Lualhati’y suma iyo
Oh Alma Mater ko

*The above speech was delivered during the 50the anniversary of the PNU LIS Department held last Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the PNU Library.

50 Years of PNU LIS

I deliverd an inspirational message during the 50th year anniversary of the Philippine Normal University Library and Information Science Department last February 16, 2008, Saturday at the PNU Library. Madame Cora Nera of the BFL graced the occassion. Mrs. Elnora Conti was awarded Outstanding Alumni while Peachy Limpin, who is based in Australia, was recognized as being the first PNU alumnus to make it to the Top 10 of the Licensure Exam for Librarians.

Here are some pictures from the said event. As usual, I have no photo because I was busy taking pictures using my cell phone. I will post my speech soon.

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)