Bontoc town library cited

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Bontoc municipal library received recognition from the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) for timely submission of 2019 monthly reports.

The NLP awarded a certificate of completion the BML for completing 2019 monthly reports covering January to December.

The award which was supposed to be awarded on August 25 was earlier received by municipal librarian Chamreine Casiwen through webinar. According to Casiwen, public libraries affiliated with the NLP are required to submit reports before the 10th day of each month.

She added that since 2018, the submission of monthly reports to the NLP had been online.

As an incentive for its compliance and timely submission of reports, the Bontoc Municipal Library is entitled to receive book allocations from the National Library.

It is to be noted that Bontoc is the only municipality in Mountain Province which has a public library and a plantilla position of a Librarian. The Bontoc Municipal Library has always been a place for students and the public to read and research. Also, four units of desktop computers are now being used by the public free of charge at the Bontoc Municipal Library for internet surfing, Microsoft Office applications and among others purposely for information and education.

Thus, online registration on government transactions such as application for NBI clearance may be availed of by the public at the Bontoc Municipal Library.

With Mayor Odsey's administration’s vision “Bontoc on the Rise” which encompasses five major programs to include Youth Development, Casiwen who manages the Municipal Library had many innovative ideas and activities towards improving literacy among the children of Bontoc. The mayor made special mention of Casiwen in his 2020 State of the Municipality Address praising her leadership where the municipal government, under her initiatives, had conducted reading drives in various elementary schools. She had also partnered with various local business establishments to promote reading. She comes up with fun activities in the Municipal Library to encourage more children to visit the Iibrary and read.

Meanwhile, with the Covid-19 pandemic that caused restriction for 21 years old and below to go out of their residences, Casiwen said that parents or guardians of children may visit the Bontoc Municipal Library to borrow and take home books and other reading materials that their children may read.

Also, in adapting to the “new normal”, the BML has come up with free tutorial on basic computer applications to include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

This will be done through schedules. Interested individuals may message the Bontoc municipal library facebook page or visit the library located at the 3rd Floor, Bontoc Municipal Capitol. It is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.