National Book Week

History In 1934, in response to the petition of the Philippine Library Association at the time, Governor General Frank Murphy issued a proclamation designating as National Book Week the period extending from June 18 to 24 of every year. This was aimed at arousing the national interest in reading good books and "designed to sell the public library to the community by focusing the attention of the people on its resources and the extent and nature of its services." To insure greater participation of the public, various libraries, and educational institutions, the program of celebration was so designed to include the essay and poster contests, book exhibitions, and visits to libraries and printing establishments. In the past, important local newspapers and magazines published contributed articles and messages about National Book Week, and two programs were broadcast over radio. Prominent men and officials of the Philippine government, such as Governor General Frank Murphy, President Manuel L. Quezon of the Philippine Senate, the most Reverend Michael O'Doherty, Archbishop of Manila, and Dr. Rafael Palma, President of the University of the Philippines, contributed congratulatory messages for the souvenir program. Judging from the response of the public and from the cooperation given by the leading universities, school libraries, bookstores, printing establishments, and different educational institutions, the idea of a book week was enthusiastically welcomed throughout the country resulting in the recognition of the public library service. In 1936, Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon moved the dates of the annual celebration to November 24-30. In 1937, the Philippine Library Association published and distributed a pamphlet entitled "Book Festival Handbook," a collection of materials and suggested ideas for celebrating Book Week; its purpose was to encourage schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions to participate. It was compiled by Mr. Perfecto S. Sison, who was then the Chairman of the Book Week Committee. In 1939, the Catholic Church began taking an active part in the observance of the Book Week. The Archbishop of Manila designated the Sunday Book Week for the observance for all Catholic Churches and enjoined priests to deliver sermons on the value of reading good books. The Bishops likewise enjoined parishes in their respective dioceses to observe the day. Some Protestant churches joined the celebration by holding special programs and exhibits. Every year, the National Book Week has been observed all over the country with a similar program of activities. Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=National_Book_Week

Celebrating Library and Information Services Month

Libraries are the stewards of our national heritage which contain a wealth of materials representing the richness of our nation’s history, acquired over the centuries. They organize a wide array of knowledge sources which we consume in our everyday living. They are more than collections of books with the added value of description, cataloguing and classification Libraries also make sure that the public have equal access to all these varied resources. The whole citizenry, especially students and academicians, are encouraged to take advantage of the diverse formats of information sources available in libraries to include print, audiovisuals, microforms, graphic materials and the fast becoming format choice particularly of the younger members of the library users, the electronic and digital resources, including access to the Internet. Bearing in mind the inestimable importance of libraries and information centers, the month of November was declared “Library and Information Services (LIS) Month” by Presidential Proclamation 837 in 1991. The Philippine Librarians’ Association and the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) spearhead the various activities for the 20th LIS Month and the 77th year of the National Book Week on November 24-30, in cooperation with the National Committee on Library and Information Services (NCLIS) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Historically, the National Book Week Celebration began with Proclamation No. 696, series of 1934 by American High Commissioner Frank Murphy and Proclamation 109 issued in 1937 by President Manuel Luis Quezon. The theme for this year’s LIS Month and National Book Week celebration is “Libraries for Progress.” This will also be the theme to be adapted by the PLAI for the 2011 National Conference and Congress to be held on November 16-18 at the Hotel Elizabeth in Baguio City. Since its establishment in 1923 the PLAI continues to hold training and education programs to keep librarians abreast of the recent updates on library and information technologies. The association has been in the frontline of research and development in the field. It has received recognition from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as the Accredited Professional Association (APO) pursuant to Republic Act 9246 issued in 2003. Still part of this year’s celebration, various activities shall be held to include the Official Opening of the LIS Month on November 4 and the opening of the National Book Week on November 24, both will be held at the Epifanio de los Santos Auditorium of the National Library. Other library and librarians’ association shall be conducting continuing professional education activities. There will also be various seminars, workshops and conferences that shall coincide with the Celebration. Expected to join are the different PLAI Regional Councils and the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL). Kudos to the National Library of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Librarians’ Association, Inc., on the 20th Library and Information Services Month and the 77th year of the National Book Week. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES MONTH 2011 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES November 4 Opening Ceremonies of the LIS Month Motorcade PLAI-NCR Forum on “Information Poverty on Climate Change: Information Consumption on the Nation’s Objectives” to be held at the Epifanio de los Santos Auditorium, The National Library at 1:00 p.m. 9-11 National Conference on Training for Librarians, Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Sta. Cruz, Manila (organized by the National Library) 10-12 CHILDREN'S LITERATURE ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILS., INC. 3-Day Seminar-Workshop on “Story Writing and Storytelling for Kids” with the theme: Write a Story and Tell it to Your Kids”. This will be held at the Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City 14 Book Talk Society of the Philippines in cooperation with the National Library of the Philippines 2nd National Workshop with the theme “Developing a Culture of Book Talk: Awareness, Consciousness, and Involvement” Epifanio de los Santos Auditorium, The National Library, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 16-18 PLAI National Conference and Congress, Hotel Elizabeth, Baguio City 24 Opening Ceremonies of the National Book Week Celebration 25 PAARL Forum “Library Personnel Productivity & Leadership” to be held at the National Library 8:00 a.m. PGLL Forum on the topic “Open Access to Legal Materials in the Philippines” to be held at the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas 28 PATLS LIS Wizard at the C & E Conference Facility 30 Librarians’ Day – Fellowship Luncheon, Hyatt Hotel, Manila

Information Poverty on Climate Change: A Forum

As part of the activities lined-up for the Library and Information Services (LIS) Month, the Philippine Librarians’ Association, Inc.-National Capital Region (PLAI-NCR) Librarians’ Council and in cooperation with the Intramuros Library Consortium, librarians, information professionals, library support staff, teachers and students of library and information studies are invited to attend and participate in a Forum on the topic “Information Poverty on Climate Change: Information Consumption on the Nation’s Objective .” This Forum aims to: 1. Create awareness about climate change and how we can properly address its impact to our community; 2. To come up with a summary of concerns that gives significance to knowledge consumption and informed awareness about this social issue; 3. Present a challenge to librarians and libraries on asserting their roles in the creation and dissemination of information about this global concern on climate change. We have invited as our Guest Speaker, Ma. Theresa Concepcion, Regional Director of Earth Island Philippines. This forum will be held on November 4, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., at the Epifanio De los Santos Auditorium, 6/F The National Library T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila. Fees to be assessed are as follow: PLAI members PHP 200.00, non-PLAI members PHP 250.00, undergraduate students PHP 100.00. These shall cover the registration fee, certificate of participation and snacks. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m.

A great believer in the Filipino

Alex is a great believer in the Filipino. He is a great believer in our beauty and greatness as a people. He is the author of the famous poem “I am Filipino”, and the bestselling author of the book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country”. Through Kabayanihan Foundation, Alex has written a series of patriotic books – a) “12 Little Things Our Youth Can Do To Help Our Country”; b) “12 Little Things Our Senior Citizens Can Do To Help Our Country”; and c) “12 Little Things Global Filipinos Can Do To Help Our Motherland”. He believes that every Filipino is part of the Solution, and part of the Hope of our Motherland. Alex is the founder and chairman emeritus of KaBayanihan, a foundation that promotes a Culture of Greatness for the Filipino. KaBayanihan is anchored on Kapatiran and Bayanihan, which literally mean Brotherhood and Community Heroism. Kapatiran and Bayanihan are two old and beautiful traits of the Filipino. These are universal values that would help make a better world for all humanity, regardless of race or religion. KaBayanihan hopes to help bring out the kapatid and the bayani in every Filipino. Every Filipino, wherever in our archipelago or the world, can be part of the solution even through small acts of patriotism or heroism. Today, Alex is one of the country’s top and best speakers on the Filipino and Patriotism, receiving almost 200 speaking invitations every year in the past 5 years. He has received several awards, including the Good Citizen/Good Filipino Award given by the Edsa People Power Commission in 2009. Alex finished law at the U.P. College of Law in Diliman, and has taken post graduate studies at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also studied at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio for 3 years. In 2007, he took a leadership course at Haggai Leadership Institute in Singapore, where he was chosen to give the valedictory address for all graduates from various countries. At present, he is a partner at the Malcolm Law Office. Alex believes that every change begins in the mind and in the heart. He believes that one of the most important things we need is cultural change, particularly cultural enrichment. He believes in the principle “Culture is Destiny” – that our culture people as a people will determine our destiny as a nation; that our culture today will determine who and what we will become tomorrow. Alex is a great believer in the Filipino. He believes that we, as a people, have the power and all the essentials to make the Filipino great and respected in the eyes of our world. By Ralph Reuben C. Morales - Kabayanihan Foundation

Forum on "Libraries and Librarians in Nation Building"

The Philippine Librarians’ Association, Inc.-National Capital Region (PLAI-NCR) Librarians’ Council invite librarians, information professionals, library support staff, teachers and students of library and information studies to attend and participate in a Forum on the topic “Libraries and Librarians in Nation-Building: Reaffirming the Role of the Information Professional in Fostering Transformational Change.”

This Forum aims to:
1. Provide a venue for a fellowship among librarians and information professionals as they are reminded of their role in making our country a nation of learned citizens and firm believers in the values of family and culture;
2. Create an understanding and raise awareness among students as future information professionals. on the importance of the information profession to the nation’s social and economic prosperity;
3. Inspire and encourage the audience to do and give their share in creating and fostering transformational change as prerequisite for nation-building.

We have invited as our Guest Speaker, Atty. Alex Lacson, Chairman Emeritus of Kabayanihan Foundation and author of the widely read and certified bestseller “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country.”

This forum will be held on September 14, 2011, at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Lane, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City in Meeting Rooms 4,5,6 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. This shall coincide with the Philippines’ premier book event, the 32nd Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). Fees to he assessed are as follow: PLAI members PHP 150.00, non-PLAI members PHP 200.00, undergraduate students PHP 75.00. These shall cover the registration fee and certificate of participation. Registrations starts at 7:30 a.m.

PLAI-NCR Forum on Expectations of the Administration From The Library in Support of Its Institutional Objectives

Library and librarians’ work is never ending and always changing. The nature and expectations of the performance of library tasks and duties have changed and evolved dramatically in the last few decades. It is now more than ever, that information professionals are being compelled to make their presence felt by their institutions and more importantly by the administrators and other stakeholders. It is based on this premise that the Philippine Librarians’ Association, Inc.–National Capital Region (PLAI-NCR) Librarians’ Council in cooperation with the Academic Booksellers Association of the Philippines (ABAP) invite librarians, information professionals, library support staff, teachers and students of library and information studies to attend and participate in a Forum on the topic “Expectations of the Administration From The Library in Support of Its Institutional Objectives”

This Forum specifically aims to:
1. Promote effective partnership between the administration and the librarian in the realization of the institution’s vision and mission.
2. To encourage involvement in the optimal utilization of library resources and services by:
a. Providing library updates to the administration and members of the faculty
b. Continuing to motivate clienteles to read and use the various resources in the library.

We have invited Dr. Benjamin G. Tayabas, President of Technological College and CHED Consultant as our Resource Speaker.

This forum will be held on July 12, 2011 at the Megatrade Hall 5th Floor, Building B of SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. This shall coincide with the 15th ABAP Book Fair. Fees to be assessed are as follow: PLAI members PHP200.00, non-PLAI member PHP 250.00, undergraduate students PHP 100.00. These shall cover the Registration fee, certificate of participation and snacks.

Thank you and we look forward to your participation.

PLAI-NCR Lecture Forum

10 February 2011

Dear Colleagues:

Warm greetings from PLAI-NCR!

The practice of librarianship in the Philippines has undergone significant transformations that call for a clear and renewed understanding of how it is to be a library and information professional beyond the acquisition of a degree from a library school, passing the Licensure examination and securing registration from the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). Continuing professional education and development is every professional librarian’s responsibility and should be every library and librarians associations’ continuing thrust.

In this regard, The PLAI–National Capital Region Librarians’ Council invites all the member of the profession to attend a Lecture-forum on the theme “Becoming” a Library and Information Professional: requirements for continuing education and development of librarians.”

This Lecture-Forum aims to:

1). Provide a venue for the discussion and reiteration of the importance of continuing education and development of practicing librarians and information professionals;

2). Discuss the role of professional associations in providing for the continuing education and development of their members, and

3). Re-introduce the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. as the PRC Accredited Professional Association (APO) of registered librarians in the country.

We have invited Hon. Corazon M. Nera, Chair of the BFL as our Resource Speaker.

This forum will be held on March 17, 2011 at the Epifanio de los Santos Auditorium, The National Library of the Philippines, T.M. Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila from 1:00 – 4:00pm. Attendance to this Lecture-Forum is FREE but we shall encourage renewal of PLAI membership and updating of membership dues.

Thank you and we look forward to your participation.

Sincerely yours,


ELVIRA BASIBAS LAPUZ
Chair, Education and Training Committee
PLAI-NCR

Noted:


REBECCA M. JOCSON
President
PLAI-NCR