Children's activity this October

For public librarians who wanted to initiate program this October, I would recommend a reading activity for Children. Knowing that it is a Children’s Month, it is better that the celebration of children will put premium on literacy, and I believe that public library will have an important role to play.

Raul S. Roco Library’s Be A Reader: rediscovering Raul S. Roco at the library has two activities related to this program - Byaheng Bukmubil and Children’s Bookfest. It brings the storytelling sessions and academic contest to public elementary schools through the Bookmobile while the culminating program was held at the City Library. These activities have generated support from Jollibee, local officials and businessmen performing as readers and the Department Education. In fact, last year, Jollibee Naga’s Why Read Campaign, a project partnered and counter part of the City Library’s Be A Reader, has been awarded for its marketing program in the National Level last February 2008.

Considering the impact of reading among children, I strongly believed that it is essential to design an area for children in every public library. And for those small public libraries, I guess that it has to include in its plan a children’s program despite the need to put an area for them.

I don’t know if other public libraries have the same program like this, but, how I wish this could be adopted and hopefully, if all public libraries will be initiating this activity, this will be our special feature from academic libraries.

Celebrating Peñafrancia Fiesta!

While every corner of Naga has transformed into a busiest place in the country, Naga City, as the home of the venerated image, is prepared for the reception of the Peñafrancia devotees. Historically, the devotion has reached three centuries.

While writing, I check the file, and surprisingly, we have three (3) major references in the library for the celebration - One is INA AND THE BIKOL PEOPLE, a coffee-table book published by the Archdiocese of Caceres, the Bookmark published and authored by Vitaliano Gorospe’s VIRGIN OF PEÑAFRANCIA, and the essays/articles published by Jose Fernando Obias entitled INA ON THE RECORD. All three references were in English and, I am assuring the readers will not be disappoint by its information.

These materials has brought an eye-opener considering that we value the acquisition of Bikol materials. Lest we forget is the acquisition of materials that depict the character of a Bikolano – the devotion to Ina.

So here it is, we have prepared an area - an exhibit and books for this occasion. We hope to see you in this area despite the attractions from activities lined-up to pomp up the festive celebration of the Penafrañcia. I would say that the library remains the quietest place we can offer during this occasion.

Here is one of the photo which we are exhibiting in the library -