impact & values of public libraries

8/6/2019 Impact & Values of Public Libraries

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The Impact and Values of

Public Libraries inthe Communities

The Impact and Values of

Public Libraries inthe Communities

by

Atty. Antonio M. Santos

by

Atty. Antonio M. Santos


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I. IntroductionI. Introduction Surely, no one would agree against the

correctness of the establishment of publiclibraries Everyone knows and certainly everyonewill agree that libraries are important; that

libraries are reservoirs of invaluable knowledgeand information the chest of the treasures ofnations and civilizations. A public library definitely

makes these knowledge and treasures accessibleto our people. (Sponsorship Speech of Rep. Jaime C.Lopez, H. B. No. 12387)

Surely, no one would agree against the

correctness of the establishment of publiclibraries Everyone knows and certainly everyonewill agree that libraries are important; that

libraries are reservoirs of invaluable knowledgeand information the chest of the treasures ofnations and civilizations. A public library definitely

makes these knowledge and treasures accessibleto our people. (Sponsorship Speech of Rep. Jaime C.Lopez, H. B. No. 12387)


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II. Definition of TermsII. Definition of TermsImpact - the impression made by a person, thing

or idea

Values - the measure of how strongly something isdesired for its physical or moral beauty,usefulness, rarity, etc.

Public - pertaining to the community as a whole

Community- a body of people living near one anotherand in social relationship

Impact - the impression made by a person, thing

or idea

Values - the measure of how strongly something isdesired for its physical or moral beauty,

usefulness, rarity, etc.

Public - pertaining to the community as a whole

Community- a body of people living near one anotherand in social relationship


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Public Library- as defined in the Implementing Rules &

Regulations of RA 7743, is a librarylocated, established and maintained bythe barangay, municipality, city, province,or congressional district as the case

maybe and serves or caters primarily totheir respective constituents

Library - is a collection of books, or a building, withcollection of books and similar materialsorganized and administered for reading,consultation, and study.

Librarian - in the Philippine context, is any personwho is a bona fideholder of a license and

a certificate of registration issued by PRCin accordance with RA 6966

Public Library- as defined in the Implementing Rules &

Regulations of RA 7743, is a librarylocated, established and maintained bythe barangay, municipality, city, province,or congressional district as the case

maybe and serves or caters primarily totheir respective constituents

Library - is a collection of books, or a building, withcollection of books and similar materialsorganized and administered for reading,consultation, and study.

Librarian - in the Philippine context, is any personwho is a bona fideholder of a license anda certificate of registration issued by PRCin accordance with RA 6966


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III. Public Libraries inthe Philippines

III. Public Libraries inthe Philippines


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Republic Act No. 411

An act to provide for the establishment, operation andmaintenance of municipal libraries throughout thePhilippines appropriating funds therefor. (1949)

Popularly known as the Municipal Libraries Act

Prior to this the establishment of public libraries was

mandated by Section 1869 of the Revised Administrative Code of 1917, as amended, throughthe Bureau of Public Libraries and then the National

Library of the Philippines (NLP).

Republic Act No. 411

An act to provide for the establishment, operation andmaintenance of municipal libraries throughout thePhilippines appropriating funds therefor. (1949)

Popularly known as the Municipal Libraries Act

Prior to this the establishment of public libraries was

mandated by Section 1869 of the Revised Administrative Code of 1917, as amended, throughthe Bureau of Public Libraries and then the NationalLibrary of the Philippines (NLP).

Legal HistoryLegal History


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Republic Act 7743

An act providing for the establishment ofcongressional, city, and municipal libraries andbarangay reading centers throughout thePhilippines. (1994)

Republic Act 7743

An act providing for the establishment ofcongressional, city, and municipal libraries andbarangay reading centers throughout thePhilippines. (1994)


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Data from Public Libraries Division of the National LibraryData from Public Libraries Division of the National Library

Regional (ARMM)-Congressional -

Provincial -City -

Municipal -

Barangay -

14

49101

573

553

T O T A L 1,281

Present StatisticsPresent Statistics


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Congressional Libraries

1. Kaban ng Hiyas Congressional Library2. Tondo Congressional Library

3. Tawi-Tawi Congressional Library

4. Bohol Congressional Library

Congressional Libraries

1. Kaban ng Hiyas Congressional Library2. Tondo Congressional Library

3. Tawi-Tawi Congressional Library

4. Bohol Congressional Library


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IV. Functions and Roles

of the Public Libraries

& Barangay ReadingCenters

IV. Functions and Rolesof the Public Libraries

& Barangay ReadingCenters


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To make available to the member of the community

reading materials of wide array, including materialsprescribed by DECS, now DepEd, and nationalnewspaper of general circulation and others. (RA 7743,sec. 6 (a))

To be used as a venue for audio-visual presentation inthe community and other kinds of exhibition andactivities aimed at increasing the literacy rate bygovernment agencies, non-government organizations orprivate entities in the dissemination of information of

general interest. (RA 7743, sec. 6 (b))

To offer such other related services in furtherance of this

Act (RA 7743, sec. 6 (c))

To make available to the member of the community

reading materials of wide array, including materialsprescribed by DECS, now DepEd, and nationalnewspaper of general circulation and others. (RA 7743,sec. 6 (a))

To be used as a venue for audio-visual presentation inthe community and other kinds of exhibition andactivities aimed at increasing the literacy rate bygovernment agencies, non-government organizations orprivate entities in the dissemination of information of

general interest. (RA 7743, sec. 6 (b))

To offer such other related services in furtherance of this

Act (RA 7743, sec. 6 (c))


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Promote a culture of reading.

The library as an integral part of both formal andinformal system of education. (Rep. Francis EscuderosSponsorship Speech)

The reading materials that will be read by ourconstituents in such libraries are those materials whichare more apropos to our culture, to our localrequirements. (Rep. Dante Liban interpellation)

There should be a quest for a balance acquisition ofmaterials and a percentage of materials which areintrinsically patriotic and nationalistic so that our

readers will be enlightened and inspired. (Rep. DanteLiban)

When we speak of a library, we presuppose that there is

a librarian who is trained (Rep. Santanina Rasul)

Promote a culture of reading.

The library as an integral part of both formal andinformal system of education. (Rep. Francis EscuderosSponsorship Speech)

The reading materials that will be read by ourconstituents in such libraries are those materials whichare more apropos to our culture, to our localrequirements. (Rep. Dante Liban interpellation)

There should be a quest for a balance acquisition ofmaterials and a percentage of materials which areintrinsically patriotic and nationalistic so that our

readers will be enlightened and inspired. (Rep. DanteLiban)

When we speak of a library, we presuppose that there is

a librarian who is trained (Rep. Santanina Rasul)


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Public libraries, especially in foreign

jurisdictions, are taking on new roles in ourcommunities. They become

Community centers

Providers of continuing education to theirpatrons

One-stop-shops that offer a myriad ofservices and convenience for citizens

Public libraries, especially in foreign

jurisdictions, are taking on new roles in ourcommunities. They become

Community centers

Providers of continuing education to theirpatrons

One-stop-shops that offer a myriad ofservices and convenience for citizens


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Libraries as facilities to hold meetings and

events. Meeting space for reading groups,adult and child education courses, andhomework programs.

Offers DVD and video game rentals, an artgallery, games and musical events to itspatron.

Career development services by offering joband workforce enrichment opportunities.

Growing role as online hub, i.e. free internetuse, access to e-government services,

computer tutorials.

Libraries as facilities to hold meetings and

events. Meeting space for reading groups,adult and child education courses, andhomework programs.

Offers DVD and video game rentals, an artgallery, games and musical events to itspatron.

Career development services by offering joband workforce enrichment opportunities.

Growing role as online hub, i.e. free internetuse, access to e-government services,

computer tutorials.


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Related Services

Outreach to Children

Outreach to Teens

Outreach to Young Adults and Adults

Outreach to Senior Citizens

Outreach to Persons With Disability Outreach to Out of School Youth

Outreach to Prisoner

Related Services

Outreach to Children

Outreach to Teens

Outreach to Young Adults and Adults

Outreach to Senior Citizens

Outreach to Persons With Disability Outreach to Out of School Youth

Outreach to Prisoner


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V. Evaluation MethodV. Evaluation Method

Librarian must demonstrate their value and impact inclear and measurable ways such as:

1. gate count,2. circulation statistics and3. other data libraries collect rarely help demonstrate

the impact of the library on institutional goals

rarely the above statistics help demonstrate theimpact of the library on institutional goals

value should be defined in terms of institutional, notlibrary goals. Libraries need to demonstrate their

value to the institutions in which they are embedded.

Librarian must demonstrate their value and impact inclear and measurable ways such as:

1. gate count,2. circulation statistics and3. other data libraries collect rarely help demonstrate

the impact of the library on institutional goals

rarely the above statistics help demonstrate theimpact of the library on institutional goals

value should be defined in terms of institutional, notlibrary goals. Libraries need to demonstrate theirvalue to the institutions in which they are embedded.


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librarians no longer can rely on their stake holders belief

in their importance. Rather they must demonstrate theirvalue. (Megan Oakleaf)

libraries are not currently failing to produce value, onlythat many are not armed with the data and vocabularyto articulate their value. (Paul Courant)

librarians should also have a good understanding ofevaluation method in order to improve the effectivenessof their programs and services.

without evaluation, it is uncertain whether any particularprogram should be recommended for wide application.

librarians no longer can rely on their stake holders belief

in their importance. Rather they must demonstrate theirvalue. (Megan Oakleaf)

libraries are not currently failing to produce value, onlythat many are not armed with the data and vocabularyto articulate their value. (Paul Courant)

librarians should also have a good understanding ofevaluation method in order to improve the effectivenessof their programs and services.

without evaluation, it is uncertain whether any particularprogram should be recommended for wide application.


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VI. ConclusionVI. Conclusion

In learning how to show how they are valuable, librarieswill probably learn how to become more valuable.

When libraries learn about their impact on users, theyincrease their value by proactively delivering improved

services and resources.

Indeed, the demonstration of value is not about looking

valuable; its about being valuable.

(Megan Oakleaf, Assistant Professor of Information Studies atSyracuse University)

In learning how to show how they are valuable, librarieswill probably learn how to become more valuable.

When libraries learn about their impact on users, theyincrease their value by proactively delivering improved

services and resources.

Indeed, the demonstration of value is not about looking

valuable; its about being valuable.

(Megan Oakleaf, Assistant Professor of Information Studies atSyracuse University)

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