PLAI-STRLC Summer Conference in Palawan

The Philippine Librarians Association Inc. - Southern Tagalog Region Librarians Council (PLAI-STRLC) conducted a 3-day Summer Conference on April 28-30, 2010 at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Spirituality and Development Center, Brgy San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

This year's Conference theme is "Towards Librarians' Skills and Competencies Enhancement". The Conference aims to: 1) enhance the librarians skills & competencies and enable them to make their library services receptive, effective and apt to the needs of their constituents; 2) present current issues and concerns affecting Philippine libraries and librarianship and develop feasible plans to address these issues; and 3) provide an avenue to impart to participants professional updates that governs the library professions to include among others an awareness on Philippine cultural, historical and educational heritage.

Topics include: Professional updates on PLAI, NCLIS and BFL/CPE; Disaster Management Readiness of Philippine Libraries; Library Networks and Linkages; Accreditation of Philippine Libraries; Storytelling for Libraries; Online Presence of Philippine Libraries; Library and Staff Development Plan.

Forum on Outsourcing Library Resources

The Cavite Librarians Association Inc. (CLASS, Inc.) is pleased to invite you in a forum and general assembly on January 22, 2010 at the new Session Hall, Legislative Building, Provincial Capitol, Trece Martires City with a theme “Outsourcing Library Resources”.

The objective of the forum includes familiarization on different sources of materials, online information and access to libraries worldwide. The registration fee is Five Hundred Pesos (Php500.00) inclusive of seminar kits, certificate of participation/appearance and handouts for the seminar and for those members/participants who will attend the general assembly only – a Php300.00 fee will be collected.

Also we would like to inform you that picture taking for membership ID will be done upon registration.

For details/inquiries and reservation, please get in touch with the following: Ms. Sonia M. Gementiza 09156059863, Ms. Connie P. Villanueva 09213732255, Ms. Eugene C. Kamantigue 09194632360, and Ms. Jennny U. Cruz 09208008930.

Symbols Used in CLASS Inc. Corporate Seal Interpreted

A committee has been created to interpret the symbols used in the Cavite Librarians Association, Inc. corporate seal led by Mr. Marcial R. Batiancila (Ex-officio Officer). The Committee has come up with the following interpretations:

· The Torch with a Flame in the form of Hands releasing a Dove – Signifies freedom of expression and equal access to information among Cavitenos.
· Open Book – Symbolizes libraries and information professionals in the Province of Cavite.
· Philippine Flag – Symbolizes the historic province of Cavite that plays an important role in Philippine political history.
· Rays of the Sun – Symbolizes the transforming nature of knowledge and the open horizon for discoveries and learning.
· Ropes (Encircling) – Symbolizes strength in unity.
· 1981 - The year that the Association was founded.

CLASS, Inc. President Gementiza Elected as PAARL Secretary

On the recently concluded Philippine Association of Academic & Research Librarians Election, CLASS President Sonia M. Gementiza is elected as PAARL secretary for 2010. PAARL is an association of academic and research libraries in the Philippines that was founded in 1973.

The newly elected board led by Christopher Paras (incoming President), Roderick Ramos (VP), Aisa dela Torre (Treasurer)and Ana Fresnido (PRO). Those who also made it to the incoming Board are: Victoria Baleva, Erlinda Gonzalez, Veronica Jose, and Sr. Gloria Pasamba. Oathtaking will take place during the PAARL Annual General Assembly on Friday, January 29 at St. Paul University in Quezon City.

Congratulations to the 2010 PAARL Board!

Cavite Provincial Library Goes E-Lib

by Emelito Rio / Cavite Times Journal, October 20-26, 2009
emelitorio@gmail.com

In an effort to modernize library services and afford the reading public, especially the students, the convenience of a fast, easy, unimpaired and free access to knowledge and information, the Cavite Provincial Library has gone E-LIB. Computers were installed in a room on the ground floor of the Legislative building to meet the needs of the modern times and keep abreast with the advent of ultra-modern information technology.

The project, which is the brain-child of Vice-Governor Dencito "Osboy" Campana and fully supported by Governor Ayong S. Maliksi aims to transform the present library into a world-class store-house of knowledge and information available and accessible to the Cavitenos, especially students, teachers, researchers, and other clients who could avail of the services via the use of computers.

"With this transformation, we expect our clientele groups to make avail of our library services designed to meet the requirements of the modern world. Libraries nowaday are not anymore confined to books lined in bookshelves available to readers through the use of card catalogues. Important news, significant world events, vital statistics, developments whether political, social, economic or scientific, and the latest breakthroughs in various fields of human endeavor like science amd nedicine will be available to readers in just a click of the "mouse". The world has changed and we must adopt ourselves to that situation, otherwise we will be left behind in our primitive ways, we will find ourselves lost in our own space and time", explained Campana.

Campana also said that there is a grand plan in the future to have a separate library, museum and archives building , not just a space in the Legislative Building. "We as Cavitenos have our distinct history, culture and the arts to preserve to present them as a showcase to our future generations . We can only do this if we can build, maintain and operate a single edifice housing all of these. This will contain all our historical artifacts, documents, writings, and boo/ks. This will be our gift and legacy to generations of Cavitenos ahead of us", said Campana.

This latest development in the provincial library is also in accord with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)/UNESCO Internet Manifesto Guidelines , an offshoot of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations which the Philippines is signatory. It aims to provide and guarantee freedom of access to information and freedom of expression among individuals, known as IFLA/FAIFE in international parlance.

The Internet Manifesto Guidelines are specific to internet access programmes in libraries and concern service policies and procedures that will lead to the implementation of the Internet Manifestos values in everyday library work. These guidelines are intended to offer guideline to library and information professionals, policy-makers and politicians in drawing up policies concerning public access to networked infromation in libraries . They provide a framework for implementation of polices guaranteeing freedom of access to information and fredom of expression on the internet as well as access to information held by cultural institutions such as libraries.

The Provincial Library is headed by Milagros Panganiban as Provincial Librarian,assisued by Connnie Villanueva, Librarian III who is currently pursuing her masteral in Library Science, Ma. Lourdes Guemo, Nerissa Monton and Charlie Garrido.

The Provincial Library is under the supervision of the Office of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan Secretary Jose de Castro.