Will closing library start trend? Marian Z. Codilla Cebu Daily News
January 03, 2009
Closing Cebu City’s only public library may set a bad precedent for other public libraries in other cities, said a book lovers advocacy group.
To avoid setting off a trend, “We are going to object to the closure. That is our stand,” said Manny Ramirez, president of the Friends of Libraries (FOL) – Cebu City chapter.
Chapter members, who hold meetings at the Rizal Memorial Library on Osmeña Boulevard, agreed to start a campaign to educate students and the public about the value of a public library.
Ramirez wouldn’t give details, though, saying their next steps depend on what the city government will do.
He asked the public to get involved and have the issue discussed in the City Council.
FOL-Cebu City is an affiliate of the international FOL group. The group helps out libraries of cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu by collecting books from various sources and donating them.
Cebu City education consultant Joy Augustus Young earlier this week confirmed plans to shut down the Cebu City Public Library and Information Center, located at the ground floor of the building, which also houses a near-empty museum.
Although he assured that library staff will be absorbed in a new project for a “library hub” located in public schools, the announcement dismayed private sector supporters of the library, which has been downsized over the years.
Closing the city’s public library should not be an option, said Rosario Chua, head of the city library.
“We hope to improve the reading culture of the Cebuanos through our public library. We are doing our best to improve the services of our public library,” said Chua.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama clarified that the library would only be closed temporarily then split between two locations until a more permanent structure could be built for a city library in reclaimed land of the South Road Properties.
The new library would be a “modern, world-class” facility, Rama said but gave no time frame or budget.
Building the facility would have to wait until the city government has earned enough from disposing of SRP lots.
In the meantime, the books would be divided between the Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School in barangay San Nicolas and in Zapatera Elementary School in barangay Zapatera, where the city library has “satellite” libraries.
The 69-year-old Rizal Memorial Library is scheduled to be renovated by mid 2009 to make way for a bigger museum.
The library occupies a 798-square-meter space on the first floor and can seat about 25 people. The second floor is supposed to be a museum while the third floor has been remodeled into a mini-auditorium called the Sinulog Hall.
The library serves around 120 visitors a day, excluding foreign tourists and participants of educational tours, according to Chua.
Parking space is shared by users of the library and other building tenants, which include the local office of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission and the Cebu City Tourism Commission.
Chua said limited parking space is one reason why few people visit the library.
“It is disheartening to know that when there are people who move to improve the services of the library, there are also people who move to close the library,” said Chelo Echaves, FOL-Cebu City vice president for external affairs.
City Hall spokesman Nagiel Bañacia said he shared FOL-Cebu City’s apprehensions about the fate of the city library. He said City Hall may tap FOL once the new library will be built as part of the city’s motto: “There is always a better way.”
He likened the plan to split the city library with the “mobile library” program where books are brought to remote areas that don’t have access to libraries.
“The satellite libraries are now the mobile libraries that will serve the depressed areas and public schools that need a library more than universities and colleges.” Bañacia said.
