Vital Role of the Library in the Life of Every Filipino

MANILA, Philippines – There are many ways for a country to preserve its history, culture, and tradition, and one of them is to store them in its library. In the Philippines, the library plays a significant part in the life of every Filipino, as there is one in every institution of learning, city and municipality, and government and private office.
The public, especially students, are encouraged to visit a library as here can be found a treasure trove of knowledge and information in books or microfilm, in manuscripts, periodicals, and other materials such as maps and musical recordings.
To focus on the vital role of the library in the life of every Filipino, the month of November was declared “Library and Information Services (LIS) Month” by Presidential Proclamation 837 in 1991. The Philippine Librarians Association Inc. (PLAI) is at the forefront of the celebrations of the 19th LIS Month this November, and the 76th year of National Book Week on November 24-30, in collaboration with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the National Committee on Library and Information Services of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). This year’s sub-themes, adopted from the NCCA 2010 theme of “Global Partnership through Arts and Culture,” are “International Librarianship: A Path Ahead” for the PLAI National Conference, and “Global Linkages Through Books and Information Technology,” for National Book Week. Historically, the twin celebrations began with Proclamation 696 and Proclamation 109 issued in 1937 by President Manuel Luis Quezon and the American High Commissioner Frank Murphy.
Through the years, the PLAI holds continuing training and education programs to keep librarians and the public abreast on recent acquisitions and publications of new books and manuscripts, both local and foreign. Established in 1923, the association, following two decades of considerable contributions to research and development, has earned for the profession...