The National Library of the Philippines is On the Move (1 of 3)

Since the #NationalNonLibrarian controversy erupted early this year, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) remained mum. There were no press releases (PR) after a short television interview given by its acting/assistant Director. It seems that, as of writing, the issue has died down.

Life goes on. For everyone.

While a few bemoan the lack of PR, both on the issue in question and about the programs and activities that the NLP implements (there are select photos and posts on Facebook by NLP librarians on library events but, nothing official), they continue on. I think the silent treatment is a classy response to all the hulabaloo. Being quiet can be a good shield against the media hounds.

But let me tell you this, the NLP is on the move!

By conducting training workshops in the development of mother tongue books and teaching materials, the NLP is reaching out to different communities in the regions. Since 2016, a core group of librarians have visited provinces and partnered with the local government units to activate the children's library services of the public libraries. One way they do this revitalization is by telling stories, conducting workshops, training teachers and librarians to craft and create stories in the language of their home, family, community and locality.

I have seen them in action last summer for I was an invited trainer and facilitator in the NLP's workshop in developing materials in the mother tongue for teaching and reading in Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental. The NLP librarians I met and spent two days of training were quiet workers who, like you and me, are learning constantly as they practice the profession. What's more, I met leaders in the NLP who show a genuine concern for grass roots development.

Sometimes, we need to go out of our comfort zones to see a bigger perspective of the world. Once in a while, we have to burst our own bubble and bravely enter another's to listen and to see their world. Only then can we truly understand, not just others, but our selves too,

My one-day workshop along side the NLP leaders and librarians was, on different levels, an enlightening one.

The Story of Our Libs

Nothing thrills me more than to hear news of younger librarians carrying on the storytelling torch for others to follow the path, or better yet, pave new roads for more librarians to conduct regular storytelling sessions in their learning communities. Ann Grace Bansig and Darrel Manuel Marco, school librarians of De La Salle Santiago Zobel, will be conducting a storytelling workshop on December 8, 2012 at the Quezon City Public Library.

Details in this poster below:

Librarians' Role in Children's Library Services

I just came home from the National Library of the Philippines. Day 1 of the 1st National Children's Librarians Conference commenced today. I arrived at the NLP thirty minutes before my scheduled talk. It was good to see friends from the profession. There were new faces as well and I'm glad to meet a younger set of participants. I had the opportunity to book talk the six NCBA Best Reads of 2012. Thank you so much, NLP!

A few minutes before my talk, I grabbed a bite of lunch and sat with Lou Miranda of Colegio San Agustin, Binan. Feedback was that participants were eager to listen and learn more about library services and the K-12 Curriculum. I did not announce in the conference that I am schedule to do a workshop on library skills instruction in the K-12 Program on 13 November 2012. Details to be announced so visit the blog often.

Below is a PowerPoint presentation (.pdf) of my lecture.

Role lib childrenslibserv_nlp from Zarah Gagatiga

Storytelling In Baguio City Public Library

Some photos from my storytelling in Baguio City. Thanks to Mrs. Fe Requilman of the Baguio City Public Library, I had a wonderful time telling stories to their day care kids. There happened to be 120 day care centers in Baguio City. Only 80 centers participated so the 40 centers are up for schedule next year.

It was my first visit at the Baguio City Public Library, a three story edifice that houses two million print collections, thesis and dissertations from the CAR region, with WIFI connection, a cozy space for children and eight licensed librarians. Suffice it to say that the librarians have the support of the LGU - from moral to financial aspects. Kudos to the public librarians of the Baguio City Public Library!

Araw ng Pagbasa (Reading Day) 2009

The Quezon City Public Library (QCPL) system kicked off the celebration of National Book Week with a Reading Day - Araw ng Pagbasa in its selected branches last November 23, 2009. The event was a week long celebration of books, reading, children and senior citizens regaling the young listeners with stories read aloud.



Having conducted a storytelling workshop for the QCPL and the Federation of Senior Citizens Quezon City Chapter on November 20, 2009, lolos and lolas (grandfathers and grandmothers) volunteered to share their time and talent in storytelling in selected QCPL branches the weekend after. Photos of lolos and lolas who voluntered can be viewed here.

I am pleased to see how they took storytelling like fish to water. During the workshop, the lolos and lolas were avid listeners. They enjoyed participating in the workshop activities as well. As far as library services go, this initiative by the QCPL is a stone that hit not one, nor two or three birds - but four!

One, storytelling, especially the read aloud technique, is highlighted as an effective vehicle to motivate children to read. Two, storytelling in the library promotes the books and services it offers to children. Three, the activity was a library service geared towards senior citizens of the community too. And lastly, the whole event emphasized the important role that librarians play in community building. The QCPL librarians have the funding and the support of their local government units. By organizing events and library services such as this, they have shown leadership and dynamism necessary to accomplish roles and responsibilities of the public library to its patrons.

Congratulations to the QCPL librarians and more power!

The Lola Basyang Tradition Lives On

In the Philippines, Lola Basyang is already a metaphor for storytelling. Popularized by Severino Reyes in the 50's as a syndicated radio program and a series of story books that carry a variety of stories from local tales and borrowed lore, it lives on in modern retellings and TV shows.

The Quezon City Public Library (QCPL) joins in the bandwagon as it pushes the campaign for library use through storytelling via the help of its senior citizens. Coordinating with the Federation of Senior Citizen Association of the Philippines QC chapter, QCPL, will be running storytelling sessions by resident lolos and lolas (grandparents) in all its branches.

On November 20, 2009, I will be joining them, sixty volunteers all for a whole day workshop on the art and therapeutic claims of storytelling. I've trained children, college students, parents, teachers and librarians on storytelling but facilitating a workshop for senior citizens as storytellers is a first.

I will definitely post a follow up entry!

Public Library Blogs

I'm squeezing this in before packing my stuff for the Philippine Public Librarians League, Inc. (PPLLI) Baguio conference. This is an exciting discovery that must be blogged about.

I was impressed by the Quezon City Public Library's (QCPL) blog and website. I just found out this morning in my last attempt to source out websites for my talk tomorrow. Their blog presents a good image of their library. It even has a working OPAC running via OpenBiblio. What's more, their library blog covers a good range of reader's services for children and teens. Plus, there are several branches with WiFi connection! What a perfect example for my talk tomorrow on the use of web technology for the delivery of reader's services!

I hope to meet a librarian from QCPL to know more about their automation process and other projects. I am continuously on the look out for such initiatives so I can feature them in this blog. Will blog about Baguio and the PPLI conference soon!

Evelyn Nabus, Filpino Librarian

This is Ms. Evelyn Nabus, Filipina and licensed librarian.

She is currently the librarian of Marikina City's Ka-Angkan Family History Center. The center is a genealogy library where one's family roots and routes can be traced. Ms. Nabus manages non-projected media formats that carry valuable primary reosurces of one's lineage. Before her assignment in Ka-Angkan, Evelyn was a college librarian at the Pamantasan ng Marikina. She also has an extensive experience in developing and implementing programs for the Marikina Public Library.

As officer of the Public Librarians Association of the Philippines, Ms.Nabus worked with other public librarians in organizing seminars and workshops for their professional growth. Likewise, she is an ex-officio of the PNU Library and Information Science Alumni Association.

Libraries, Librarians and Some Politics

I am running a four day web enhanced teaching seminar for Phoenix Educational Systems this week and it pleases me to see librarians from schools and public libraries in attendance.

I am seated beside Madame Teresita Osorio, Chief Librarian of the Pasig City Library and Discovery Centrum. Call it serendipitous since I meant to do storytelling sessions in the library's Children's Section.

Apart from connecting with "my kind", I got news from the Pasig librarians that Mayor Bobby Eusebio has been very busy building the barangays in Pasig. Madame Teresita Osorio actually came from judging a contest for model barangay libraries in the city. Some good news. A quick bat of an eyelash and soon it's 2010.

The Pasig City Library

It was last year when I met public librarians from the Pasig City Library. I had a seminar-workshop for the Filipinas Heritage Library and the National Book Development Board in June 2007 and it was for public librarians.

I promised myself that I will visit the new library. I pass by the building every morning when I go to work. The good thing about it is that, the public library is just beside the Pasig Central Elementary Scool. This means that the city government considered the location of the library as a means for easy access to children who are learning to read. It turns out that it was being renovated. It will not open until May 2008 which means, I will have to wait three more months to check it out with my kids.

The public library in Pasig City was a popular students' destination in the 80's and early 90's. Through the leadership of the great Pilar Perez, the public library in Pasig became a research and learning center for chidlren and teens. I remember my teachers in Pateros Catholic School encouragng us to go and do our research there. I did use the resources of the Pasig City Library once or twice, but I never saw or met Pilar Perez. She will remain in my memory though as one librarian leader in the field of Children's and Young Adult Library Services.

The public library, at that time, was used to be housed in the villa very near the Pasig Cathedral. That villa is now the city's museum. But, before that, a strange looking warehouse along A. Mabini St. carries a sign that reads " Rizal Provincial ---ary". We can only speculate if it was indeed the first location of the Pasig City Library.

Librarian In Action : Riko Vinluan

This is Riko Vinluan, yes, he is male and the librarian of the Naga City Library. He is in charge of the Naga City Libray Hub as well as the Raul Roco Collection (and future museum). On top o f this, He is involved in helping public school libraries become visible and functionally real in Naga City via the support of its local government and the DepEd division there. Given these assignments and responsibilities, he feels so old at 29 years old.



I pray that Riko's well spring of enthusiasm and energy never runs dry because, I witnessed (in my short stint there as workshop-seminar facilitator) Riko's leadership to mobilize people for a more progressive library services in the community. After my two day session with teacher-librarians and students of library science from the Ateneo De Naga and the Univeristy of Nueva Caceres, Riko went on to organize the Naga School Librarians Association. This early, they have projects and activities lined up.

Here's hoping that they get the support they truly deserve from all sectors of government and non-government organizations. My presence there yesterday was made possible through collaboration with the PBBY.

Misplaced Librarian

There were many insights and issues that surfaced from my seminar-workshop with public and barangay librarians yesterday at the Filipinas Heritage Library. Public librarians, kin to school librarians, have their share of problems, concerns and what-nots. For many, funding and budget is not the number one challenge in meeting the objectives of library services, but, staff training and the availability of enough manpower to sustain the energy of the library. This was articulated by almost three fourth of the participants.

Although it was never identified what kind of training they needed the most, I have an inkling that the skills and competencies they must learn are those on library management, communication skills and the ability to integrate a variety of disciplines that will eventually lead to succesfull plans and programs for the public library. In this case, librarians must be given enough exposure to travel and bench mark with other librarians in the provincial and international settings. Those who are still in the academe earning the degree necesitate an interdisciplinary learning experience in their study of Library and Information Science.

Last I heard, teachers of LIS are revising and improving curriculum to give focus and direction to students. There may be students who would like to focus on IT development; public service; media and communications; education and training; etc. but with a foundation on LIS.

When job related issues began sprouting during the discussion, I was earnest to hear them out. I was interested to find out the paradigms and schools of thought these librarians subscribe to. Often, their comments and questions reflect their personal and professional philosophy.

One librarian was given the task as tour guide. And yes, it was a very uncomfortable task. Not the librarian's fault since she was trained to procure, organize, manage and circulate the library's collection. Then again, the role of a librarian has changed radicaly over the years that to maintain that set of tasks limits the moral, cultural and intellectual growth of the community. Public librarains have a special role in elevating literacy. And there are many kinds of literacy. Is the public librarian trained and prepared for this change. Is the public librarian equiped to handle emerging kinds of literacy for people of different age groups and demographics?

There are many librarians I know who did not take LIS courses but were lucky enough to learn and get units of LIS. Most pursue a graduate degree even. Some are quite succesful though their bachelor's degree is non-LIS. But what happens if the table is turned? What can the librarain do if he or she is expected to be teacher, curator, manager, events planner, PR officer, editor, web developer, even computer technician? Will he/she rely on God given wit and talent or learn new things to integrate with the old knowledge?