File photo
MANILA -- With e-books are now at the fingertips of anyone with access to the Internet, why do public libraries still matter?
This will be explained in a series of activities during the 29th observance of the Library and Information Services (LIS) Month in November.
The event will be spearheaded by the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (NCCA-NCLIS) and the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI).
In a Palace briefing, NLP Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano said the LISM is meant to promote awareness about the different services offered by libraries and the importance of libraries in the community.
This year, the 29th LIS Month will go by the theme “Inclusive, Innovative, Interconnected”.
The goal of the LIS Month is to develop a unified calendar of activities for libraries, generate interests on libraries and their services, and discover the best practices of outreach services available in various libraries across the country.
Activities such as interactive storytelling, outreach programs, social media contests, workshops, book exhibits, among others will be held in public libraries nationwide.
Among the highlights of the LIS Month will be the "Search for Outstanding Public Libraries” contest.
Slated on Nov. 29, the contest "aims to focus on the invaluable programs and services that libraries render to the community, particularly in the special programs and outreach services on 'malasakit' (compassion) to different sectors in the community.
It is also meant to recognize the librarians' role to make them more cognizant, zealous, committed and dedicated to their functions and responsibilities.
The celebration of the LIS Month started in 1991 when then-President Corazon Aquino signed the Proclamation 837 declaring November of every year the LIS Month.
Adriano said there are 1,478 NLP-affiliated public libraries composed of one regional library, six congressional libraries, 55 provincial libraries, 114 city libraries, 597 municipal libraries, and 705 barangay libraries.
He said some libraries extend their services up to 7 p.m. like the Quezon City Public Library while others have Saturday services.
Currently, the only library that operates 24/7 is the Cebu City Public Library. (PNA)
