By PR | 02:29 AM April 26, 2024
At least 226 participants attended the 2024 National Conference of Public Libraries held in Bohol on April 23-25.
Bannered by the theme: “Ikaw, Ako, at ang Pampublikong Aklatan: Higit Animnapu’t Limang Pagtutugunan”, the conference was organized by the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the provincial government through the Bohol Provincial Library and Information Center (BPLIC), in partnership with the Bohol Librarians Association, Inc. (BOLAI) and the Association of Librarians in the Public Sector (ALPS), Inc.
The conference celebrated the return of the event after it was scrapped due to the pandemic and was attended by registered librarians, public librarians including local government officials, library and information science students and other stakeholders.
“Through the years, libraries are the primary source of information for many Filipinos,” said NLP Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano.
Even with the advent of digital technology, libraries remain as the center of education and literacy, “supporting the development of the youth in their journey towards maturity and enlightenment.”
The conference has been a gathering place for participants to acquire and share knowledge, skills and attitudes in the development of the Philippine Public Library System through the inspiring experiences of adaptations, trends, and best practices of Philippine Public Libraries.
Among the topics discussed were practices, activities, and the concepts that will develop Philippine Public Librarianship.
The session also sought to identify the issues and concerns besetting the development of public libraries and select alternative solutions in addressing such issues.
At the same time, the conference also allows librarians to develop and sustain connections and collaborations between library organizations and other institutions and stakeholders having related visions and missions toward developing Philippine Public Librarianship.
It is also aimed at establishing a centralized platform where librarians and officials can personally select, inquire about, and engage with publishers, thereby consolidating a wide array of available materials in the market for potential library acquisitions.
Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said the conference will continue the legacy of nation building through the availability of literacy and education resources that will inform, inspire, and engage the next generation of Filipinos.
Speakers who graced the occasion include City Mayor Jane Yap, former NLP Director Prudenciana Cruz, Nicandro Pagaran, Bohol Librarians Association Inc. president; Lilia Echiverri, National Commission for Culture and the Arts executive council member; and Maria Vida Aparicio, Bohol Provincial Library librarian. (PIMO/RJG)
