National Library Holds 2nd Librarian’s Convention

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With over seventy participating librarians in attendance, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) opens the 2nd Convention of Provincial Librarians in the Philippines and Leadership Training-Workshop held Wednesday (Aug. 14) at the NLP Building in Kalaw, Manila.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Harold E. Clavite who spoke during the event cited the importance of revitalizing Republic Act 7743, which seeks to establish congressional, city, and municipal libraries and barangay reading centers throughout the Philippines.

“Through the help of this law, libraries and learning hubs will be more accessible to the public,” Clavite said.

“In assistance to NLP, the PIA will continue to promote the importance of libraries as one of the most credible repositories of information and knowledge,” Clavite added.

Organized through the Public Libraries Division of the NLP, the three day training workshop is intended to equip librarians with the necessary problem-solving and leadership skills to better lead their respective institutions.

Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Francisco R. Cruz of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) cited the importance of libraries and other learning institutions in achieving the goals of Ambisyon Natin 2014 which aims to lay a strong foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally-competitive economy toward a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay para sa Lahat.”

"Napakahalaga ng mga nagagawa ng ating mga library at librarians to achieve what is reflected in the Philippine Development Plan and the Ambisyon 2040" Cruz said.

“We also enjoined the local government units to cultivate the knowledge sharing culture and collaborative knowledge management among their fellow LGU and societal organizations.” Cruz said while sharing the DILG’s efforts in establishing libraries nationwide.

The DILG, pursuant to Section 17 (b) (1) of the Local Government Code of 1991 and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-208, urged local government officials to establish barangay reading centers that would be linked to the country's first public e-library.

Based on the Memorandum Circular, the LGUs should provide the barangays with innovative education tools through the e-library (www.elib.gov.ph).

The e-library has access to the union catalogues of the National Library, University of the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and Commission on Higher Education.

E-library also includes Filipiniana materials, theses, dissertations, researches, on-line resources, and subscription to electronic databases.

Barangay folks, especially the students, can have the access to the most comprehensive libraries in the Philippines and the world with more than 8,000 records consisting of Philippine materials and 29,000 full-text journals.



NLP Director Cesar Guilbert Q. Adriano said 2ND Convention of Provincial Librarians in the Philippines and Leadership Training-Workshop is very timely as it coincided with the 132nd founding anniversary of the National Library. (PIA InfoComm)