The Department of Science & Technology has spearheaded a strategic planning session for the development of the Dumaguete City Public Library, which the city government wants to transform into a more suitable facility for a university town.{{more}}
Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria earlier expressed his intention to support the development of the city public library.
According to Gima Cornelia, the city public library is a recipient of the DOST grant of P200 thousand for the first phase of the implementation, the amount of which was used to purchase equipment like computer units, printer and books for the library.
The planning session recently was participated in by non-government organizations, civic groups and librarians from different universities, colleges and public schools around Dumaguete City.
Cornelia said the second phase of the DOST grant requires the city government to expand and enhance the services of the city public library that is comparable to the university library.
Part of the plan is to make the library a place for discussions and researches not just for students but from all walks of life, she added.
Suggestions to improve the library include establishing a Wi-Fi zone, computer units and Internet connections, and provide more space for library users plus acquire more books, reference materials, as well as improving the catalog of the books through a computerized system.
At present the city public library is serving an average of 400 users a day from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1 pm to 6 pm during Mondays to Saturdays, Cornelia said. (PNA/jfp/Maricar Aranas)