Cebu City library moves for wider local collection

CEBU, Philippines - The Rizal Memorial Library and Museum, better known as the Cebu City Public Library, is currently working on a project that aims to make it the best place to be for anyone who wants to know everything about the Cebuano history and culture.

City Librarian IV Rosario Chua said they have started fielding people and coordinating with proper groups and agencies in collecting reference materials of any kind that tell about the Cebuano history and culture to add to the library’s current 14,000 collections.

Chua said that instead of competing with existing libraries in universities and colleges within the City in terms of academic books, the Cebu City Public would rather choose to specialize in materials that would best help the public to understand more about Cebu, its people and everything there is to know about it.

The library still keeps its unique set of rare books about Cebuano History but Chua said that only 10 percent were left of their original collections after some books were destroyed by calamities and disasters.

Aside from old books and references about Cebu, they are trying to collect autobiographies of Cebuano artists - from writers, composers to painters and the likes. The library is assisting local authors to introduce their works that might in turn encourage others to write.

Chua said that the City Government has allocated more budget for them this year which they may use to purchase more books and equipment for the library.

From less than P1 million last year, the Public Library was appropriated P1.96 million this year.

Chua said they will be purchasing more books though most of their collections come from donations. She encourages young people to visit the library and appreciate reading historical materials especially about their own community. She observed that most of their visitors are senior citizens.

Since the library reopened last May, it is already well-lit and has more facilities for the senior citizens who frequent the place.

Most senior citizens come to them to read periodicals and they come back almost everyday because the library has become a convenient venue for them to relax while educating themselves of the current events.

Chua said they also encourage reading among senior citizens because of the benefits of reading more as they grow older.

The library has an average of 2,500 visitors per month.

The Cebu City Public Library was established on April 13, 1919. It was closed during the World War II and re-opened in 1953.

In 2009, the library was again closed to give way to the renovation of the museum and was reopened in full operation last May. (FREEMAN)