TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- In celebration of Library Services and Information Month this November, an official of Cagayan Provincial Learning and Resources Center (PLRC) is encouraging Cagayanos to visit the provincial library.
PLRC Head Michael Pinto said that the image of the library today is ‘gradually changing.’
Nowadays, Pinto said, people usually perceive libraries as a place with stockpile of books and printed materials.
“It’s high time na malaman po ng ating mga kababayan kung ano nga ba ang purpose, function, at programa ngayon ng ating library,” he said.
In Pagdidinnamagan: Kapehan sa Kapitolyo on Monday, November 6, Pinto said PLRC is the first public library in the country to have purchased a destiny library manager, an automated system for managing library resources.
“So dati po kung meron tayong tinatawag na catalogue card, this time through computer, i-type lang nila kung anong hahanap nila [at] makikita [na] nila kung avaialable yung libro,” Pinto said.
Also, the public can now avail free access cards instead of borrower’s cards.
Yet, collections in the library are still ongoing automation and bar coding, the provincial librarian said.
As of now, the library has books and resources donated by several organizations such as Emerald which donated Reader’s Digest books and National Geographic magazines.
This month, the library will also get more resources particularly on banking, finance, and money through a memorandum of agreement with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The PLRC will be a recipient of BSP Corner.
Students as top visitors
Pinto maintains that students remain the top visitors of the library, noting how “good” and strategic the library’s location is.
Situated within this city’s university belt, the PLRC will soon have a silent study area, discussion room, sunk bay area, and a “Maker’s Place” wherein, Pinto said, ideas could be created and discussed.
As member of the academe and former Director of Libraries in University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao, Pinto is pushing for a “School Consortium” on learning and academic resources.
He said the consortium may allow access and sharing of local research and theses made by students and researchers in the province.
“Pag may consortium, puwedeng shared ang information among all the members [schools]… Pag nabuo natin yung consortium, magshe share na lang. It’s a way para mas makatipid pa,” he said.
However, he noted that this “may take time” as the formation of a “Cagayan Library Consortium” is still being proposed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Hindi man namin siguro maibigay yung ibang pangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng libro, pero yung access sa internet is one way.
Meanwhile, Pinto said the PLRC does not subscribe yet to online resources and journals. However, the library provides assistance to students in searching for free online databases and journals.
He also assured that the building is WiFi-equipped and that this can compensate for the availability of journals. Northernforum.net
