A lot of us perceive November as the season for Halloween, honoring the Saints and the dead, and welcoming the holidays. But for Filipino librarians, it is considered a special time as we celebrate the Library and Information Services Month. This is in accordance with Proclamation No. 837 of 1991, which designated all the days of November for “public awareness to the invaluable service that libraries and information centers render”, hence, the LIS Month.
On its 32nd commemoration this year, different events and activities are prepared under the direction and auspices of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Following this year’s theme of Mga Aklatan bilang mga Kanlungan ng Karunungan: Tagapagpangalaga ng Kultura at Pamanang Lokal, which focuses on the significant role of libraries in providing services and information in the promotion and preservation of Filipino culture and heritage.
Participants from UP Diliman during the 1st LISM Librarians’ Game Show.
One of the highlights of the month was the first ever Librarians’ Game Show, held on the 4th day of November at the Epifanio de los Santos Auditorium, National Library of the Philippines. Representatives from different library associations gathered to compete as they tested their knowledge and understanding in the field of librarianship. In the awarding event, the librarians of University of the Philippines Diliman dominated the podium. Bagging the first place was the Asosasyon ng Aklatan at Sinupan ng Diliman, Inc. (AASDI) represented by Ms. Elaine Barbara M. Cruz – Librarian I, Information Services and Instruction, and Serials Section; and Mr. Martian A. Jinio – Librarian I, Information Services and Instruction Section, and Information Technology Division. Awarded second place was Mr. John Christopherson L.T. Fredeluces, the Acting Head Librarian of the Strategic Communications and Marketing Section representing PUP Library Science Alumni Association Inc.(PUPLSAA), and for third place, Mr. Arthur Bryan C. Mariano, Acting Head Librarian, Asian Center Library, representing UP Library Science Alumni Association (UPLSAA).
Moreover, the Philippines Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI), in partnership with NCCA-NCLIS and NLP, also conducted its Annual National Congress at the Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City on November 22-25, 2022, with the theme “Working Together: Sustainability, Opportunity, Adaptability, and Resiliency (SOAR)”. In this event, librarians from the University of the Philippines – Diliman were able to present as resource speakers in parallel sessions.
Mr. Martian Jinio and Ms. Eunice Ann Chua presenting their research paper.
Mr. Martian Jinio and Ms. Eunice Ann Chua gave a presentation entitled “SDG Things: Mapping out SDG 4-related Library Initiatives of the 2022 Impact Ratings’ Top Performing Universities in the Philippines”. Ms. Grace Garcia and Ms. Fraymon Joy Cruz presented their research paper entitled “Research Data Service in Selected Academic Libraries in the Philippines: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities”. Both are products of the research training entitled Crunching the Numbers: Training Workshop of Advanced Quantitative Research Methods for Library Staff conducted by the Library Research Committee (LRC) in June 2022.
Ms. Grace Garcia and Ms. Fraymon Joy Cruz during their presentation in the parallel session.
Another parallel session entitled “Work from Home Arrangements in the Academic Library Setting: Boon and Bane” was presented by the Head Librarian of the College of Engineering Library, Ms. Sharon Maria Esposo-Betan, together with Ms. Ana Maria B. Fresnido, and Ms. Sonia M. Gementiza. Mr. Arthur Bryan C. Mariano also presented his paper entitled “No Format Left Behind: Digitization of Media Materials for Access and Preservation”. As part of the National Congress, PLAI also held its 2nd National Research Conference on October 11, 2022 where Ms. Reina R. Irinco gave a presentation on “Familiarity Level and Roles of Librarians in the Realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in UP Diliman Libraries”, also a research product of the LRC Training Workshop.
The month-long event was definitely a success. The University Library recognize and support its librarians for actively participating in events and activities which aims to demonstrate the value and role of libraries in nation-building.