RSR Library Innovations in Support of Local Governance

1
RSR Library Innovations in Support of Local
Governance

• RIKO VINLUAN
• Naga Librarian

2
Presentation Outline

• Brief history of RSR Library
• The Library and the Naga City Road Map
• The Library and the Naga City Governance Model
• RSR Library Best Practices
• Lessons Learned

3
Brief history

• One of the eight libraries initially set up in
  the country in 1921, then called the Camarines
  Sur Branch Library. Coordinated other libraries
  in the province
• Nearly abolished by the provincial board a few
  years after the city gained its charter.
• Management handed over to the city government in
  1954, was reorganized and renamed the Naga City
  Public Library

4
Brief history

• Housed in rented buildings in downtown Naga City
• Transferred to its own two-storey building in
  2005 and renamed the Raul S. Roco Library upon
  the latters 64th birthday
• Aside from the usual library sections, it now has
  an internet kiosk, a memorabilia room of the late
  senator, the DepEd library hub, a local
  governance section, and AV and electronic
  resources

5
In a snapshot
6
PERFORMANCE MEASURE 2005 BASE YEAR 2015 TARGET
Proportion of pupils starting Grade 1 who finish Grade 6 (MDG) 78 90
Proportion of school age children in school (MDG) 100 100
Proportion of first year high school students who finish high school 69 85
Prevalence of underweight children under 5 years of age (MDG) less than 1 less than 1
7
Naga City Road Map

• The RSR Library contributes to the attainment of
  our vision by engaging in programs and projects
  that will encourage the youth to finish their
  education
• at least 90 of Grade 1 pupils finish Grade 6 and
  
• at least 85 of first year high school enrolees
  finish fourth year.

8
PERFORMANCE MEASURE 2005 BASE YEAR 2015 TARGET
Proportion of programs and policies formulated, implemented, monitored and evaluated with citizen or civil society participation 80 99
Proportion of randomly surveyed city residents who have an understanding of the citys history, culture and arts n.d. 90
Percentage of households practicing segregation at source 50 99
9
Naga City Road Map

• The RSR Library contributes to the attainment of
  our vision by engaging in programs and projects
  that will encourage the promotion of good
  governance and responsible citizenship

10
THE NAGA GOVERNANCE MODEL

• Progressive development perspective. Seeks
  prosperity-building tempered by an enlightened
  perception of the poor
• Functional partnerships. Vehicles that enable
  the city to tap community resources for priority
  undertakings
• Participation. Mechanisms that ensure long-term
  sustainability of local undertakings

11
Governance Model

• Progressive Leadership Seeks to harness the
  Library as a tool for the citys overall
  development..
• for attaining the citys MDG on education
• for promoting good governance and responsible
  citizenship
• for attaining the citys targets on poverty
  alleviation

12
Governance Model

• Functional partnerships enables the RSR Library
  to tap community resources for its programs
• Jollibee Foods Corporation extends its popular
  menu free of charge in all official activities of
  the Library
• MNCCI and KBP for story telling activities
• Universities (e.g. DLSU) and foundations as
  source of library materials

13
Governance Model

• Functional partnerships
• Local computer schools (STI, Datamex, CCDI, PCFC)
  as source of student volunteers
• Local school libraries (Holy Rosary Minor
  Seminary, AMA Computer College, CCDI, PCFC) as a
  partner for exchanging library resources
• Naga City Scholars Guild as source of volunteer
  manpower for day-to-day library operations

14
Governance Model

• Participation
• Engages Library stakeholders in planning and
  implementation of its programs, projects and
  activities
• Generates community support and helps ensure
  sustainability of its programs
• Helps align library activities with the citys
  road map

15
Innovations

• Library Rewards Program.
• Books are given points
• Higher points for Bikol and Filipiniana materials
  and those given national awards
• Borrowers who collect certain points are given
  rewards (mugs and T-shirts) and special
  privileges (more number of books that can be
  borrowed)
• Promotes awareness of Philippine and Bikol
  history and culture

16
Innovations

• Annual Library Lecture Series
• Promotes awareness and appreciation of local
  writers and historians and their role in
  promoting Bikol culture and history
• Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera - mainstreaming Bikol
  language and literature
• Ms. Eugenia Apostol - responsible journalism,
  effective communication and transparent
  governance

17
Innovations

• Annual Library Lecture Series
• Bikol historian Dr. Danny Gerona - importance of
  understanding local history
• Columnist Conrado de Quiros - literature and
  governance
• Poet Alan Popa changing paradigm of Bicol
  Poetry
• Mrs. Prudencia C. Cruz - impact of local history
  materials in public libraries

18
Innovations

• Childrens Bookfest.
• Targets pre-schoolers from the citys educare
  centers and elementary pupils up to Grade 2.
• Select individuals from City Hall, the academe,
  the media, business community and civic
  organizations take turns in reading childrens
  books and amplifying them for the benefit of
  their young listeners.
• Jollibee provides free food and gift items for
  the participants

19
Innovations

• Be a reader Rediscover Raul S. Roco _at_ the
  Library
• Encourages students to rediscover the ideals of
  Raul S. Roco, a distinguished leader and public
  servant.
• Students research his life at the library and
  join in an inter-school speech competition
  centering on the former senators principles and
  ideals.
• Thru this activity, the youth are encouraged to
  be good and responsible citizens

20
Innovations

• Byaheng Bukmobil
• Deploys the citys Book Mobile to public schools
  in far-flung barangays.
• Enhances learning in public schools and
  inculcates love for reading.
• To generate more readers, a local personality is
  brought in to do story-telling.
• Beneficiaries of this project are 10 schools
  located in the citys upland and agricultural
  barangays whose distance from the Library makes
  commuting expensive for their pupils.

21
Innovations

• Databank Exposition
• The librarys collection of books on Bicol
  history, arts and culture as well as old photos
  of the city are exhibited during historical
  celebrations and other events.
• Makes key resources of the library more
  accessible to a larger audience
• Recent expositions
• 15 Bikol Martyrs,
• 1920-1950 Bikolano writers and photos of Naga
  City
• Bikol Book Collections.

22
Innovations

• Inter Library Resource Sharing Program
• Regular exchange of books between RSR Library and
  the libraries of
• Holy Rosary Minor Seminary
• Philippine Computer Foundation College
• Computer Communication Development Institute
• AMA Computer College

23
Innovations

• Inter Library Resource Sharing Program
• Collection of all partners are multiplied
• Directs available funding for the acquisition of
  other priority books
• Minimizes duplication of library materials
• Encourages sharing of good practices among the
  different librarians.

24
Lessons Learned

• A library, particularly those operated by a local
  government unit, must be harnessed in support of
  local development
• A public library can multiply its resources by
  recognizing the unique interests of potential
  partners
• Participation of library stakeholders in planning
  and implementation is essential for the success
  and sustainability of its programs