For its first year, the consortium had set two goals:
1. To improve the image of public libraries and librarians through events
2. To share among its member best practices and help members implement these best practices.

The jingle prepared and produced by the consortium seeks to stimulate interest about public libraries and hopefully encourage them to utilize free informational services.

The jingle will be launched in November 2009 in time for National Book Month.

Suggested activities are the following:
1. Make an AVP.
2. Ask malls to play the jingle in their public address system.
3. Ask AM/ FM radio stations to play the jingle.
4. Prepare an advertisement and place ad on a broadsheet and tabloid.
5. Have storytelling sessions/ puppetry sessions at the libraries.

The consortium does not have any funding and plans to approach the companies and ask for their help pro-
bono. We welcome volunteers who can help us realize our goals. Weekly meetings will be done starting 1st week of September. Meeting day will be on Wednesday at 9 am-10 am to be held at Quezon City Public Library.First meeting is on September 2. Email Mr. Troy Lacsamana at troybdude@yahoo.com if you can help the consortium.

This will be done in a span of 2-3 months.

In the meantime, you can listen to the jingle here:

You can view our blog at: http://publiclibrariesconsortium.wordpress.com/

The “DULAAN NG MGA MANYIKA” was designated to provide both learning and enjoyment to the numerous children in the City of Manila. This puppet theatre is an outreach program; a powerful educational tool; a contemporary trend in public library service; and a long-term recreational benefit for members of the communities in Manila.

The “Dulaan ng mga Manyika” is made up of a group of selected artistically skilled and talented employees of the Manila City Library, headed by Ms. Grace V. Gargantiel, Officer-In-Charge. This energetic group trained at the Philippine Information Agency, where they learned the construction and manipulation of puppets. They started with

making simple ball puppets andin September of 2001, presented their first show during an outreach program at Holy Family Parish in San Andres. The host of the puppet theatre is a puppet called “Kapitan BOOKnoy”, who has the role to promote the value and importance of reading books. The show presented a play, a song and dance number by funny puppet characters.

Soon, the puppeteers designed and constructed a range of “rod” puppet characters, which are more difficult to manipulate, but upgraded the quality of the puppet show. The task of providing this wholesome show comes with a responsibility to teach the youngsters what is morally and socially right. The stories of the puppet plays were derived from fables and children’s storybooks that done worthwhile moral lessons. Included in the repertoire of the puppet presentation are: dance number performed by puppet animals; a song number by a female puppet called “Weng”, and a puppet rock band that plays famous local favorites. Kapitan BOOKnoy also has a partner in hosting the show called “Benok”.

The puppet theatre was also hooked up with the Early Childhood Care and Development Program of UNICEF, closely coordinating with the Manila Department of Social Welfare, advocating and promoting the Rights of Children.

Puppet shows are scheduled monthly at the different city libraries and upon requests of City Schools and Barangay leaders, providing a happy, healthy and learning environment for the growing children of Manila.
(Raquel Gomez, MCL)

Sa aking pagsangguni sa iba’t ibang aklat at reperensiya, nabuo ko ang sarili kong depinisyon ng pagbasa; Ito ay proseso ng pagtunghay, pagunawa at pagkuha ng ideya, kaisipan o mensahe ng
may-akda sa babasahing kanyang isinulat at upang mabigkas nang pasalita ang mga ito. Nakapaloob din sa pagbasa ang pakikipagtalastasan tulad ng pakikinig, pagsasalita, at pagsulat.

Narito ang ilan sa kahalagahan ng pagbasa:
1. Magkaroon ng impormasyon;
2. Makapagisip
nang malalim tungkol sa pansariling ideya at karanasan;
3. Malaman ang ideya at karanasan ng iba;
4. Makasiguro sa sariling paniniwala;
5. Makatuklas nang karunungan sa iba’t ibang larangan;
6. Makakuha nang mabuting aral na gabay sa buhay;
7. Magtamo nang kasiyahan at magamit nang makabuluhan ang oras;
8. Malaman ang makabagong kaalaman, halimbawa sa larangang panteknolohiya;
9. Mahasa ang kaisipan at;
10. Masuri ang imahinasyon.

Ang pagbasa ay bahagi na ng ating pangarawaraw
na pamumuhay. Bawat sulok, bawat lugar, may titik, numero at salita. Sa laki ng papel na ginagampanan nito, nararapat lang na ito ay pagtibayin at paunlarin.

Bigyan natin ng panahon at halaga ang paglago ng ating kakayahan sa pagbasa. Sinasabing sa pagbabasa nagsisimulang makarating sa iba’tibang lugar, makakilala ng magiting na personalidad at
makapaglalakbay sa iba’t ibang panahon. Ang pagbabasa ay hindi ordinaryong kakayahan, ito ay pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain na nagtatanggal ng uhaw at gutom sa kaisipan.

Busugin ang kaisipan, Halina’t Magbasa, Bagong Kaalaman ay tuklasin na!

Sa pagbabasa malalaman mo ang nakaraan, maiintindihan ang kasalukuyan, at makikita ang kinabukasan.

Submitted by:
Vic Jayson C. Cruz, Acting City Librarian, Marikina City Library
(Article was published at the Marikina City’s Quarterly Digest)

PLC held their first organizational meeting last November 20, 2008 at Manila-Sacramento Friendship Branch of the Manila City Public Library. The libraries were represented by Manila Public Library librarians Helen Grace Cacho, Raquel Gomez and Ma. Teresa Rotao, Marikina Public Library head librarian Vic Jayson Cruz and Quezon City Public Library Multimedia and Outreach Librarian Alistair Troy Lacsamana. Pasig City Public Library head librarian Ms. Theresita Osorio was not able to attend because of a previous commitment.

In the meeting, goals and vision was discussed and came up with a common vision for the member libraries:

1. To improve the image of public librarians and public libraries
2. To share among its members best practices utilized by the public libraries and help member libraries implement this best practices

In order to attain this vision, we have set the following action items for the succeeding months:

1. Make a blog for the consortium for the promotion of the public library image, plans, minute meeting, events and other relevant information will be posted in the the blog. Member libraries are encouraged to submit posts.
2. Make a common jingle about public libraries and the consortium. The jingle will be played in all library events of the consortium
3. Make a media list and share the media list to the consortium. Member libraries will be taught how to prepare a press release and how to coordinate to media organizations
4. Submit library logos and prepare a template for tarpaulines which will be used during library events
5. Train librarians puppetry skills

Next meeting was scheduled last December 11, 2008 but due to busy sked of the librarians it was resked for January 8, 2009. The meeting will be held at the Pasig City Public Library. Agenda will be to update what was accomplished in the action items set in the first meeting.