Due to the high number of library users noted, the City Librarian recommended to the city council to extend the service hours of the City Public Library.
In a report submitted to the city council, City Librarian Easter Pablo recommended for the public library to be open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The recommendation was based on the test period conducted from Nov. 8 to Dec. 8, 2021 pursuant to Section 18 of Ordinance 16, s. 2021 entitled “Modernizing and Expanding the Services of the Baguio City Public Library and allocating funds thereof.”
It states a dry run shall be conducted for a period of one month after the approval of the ordinance to test the implementation of the extended service hours of the City Library.
Based on the data derived from the test period, Pablo concluded the city library is highly used on Saturdays. The average number of library users in a day during the 25-day test period was 108. On four Saturdays, 76, 73, 103, and 117 library users logged in, respectively.
The 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. service hours was recommended because results of the test period indicated a low level of use during the extended service hours from 5 to 7 p.m.
The total number of library users from 5 to 6 p.m. for the entire duration of the test period was only 786, which is 29.14 percent of the total number of daily in-house attendance from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The total number of library users from 6 to 7 p.m. further dipped to 558, which is 20.64 percent of the total number of daily in-house attendance from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Since the data were gathered at a time when library attendance was affected by the pandemic, Pablo said the proposed service hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be expanded when the state of public health emergency is finally lifted.
She said the Monday to Saturday library operation will be implemented once all the vacant positions have been filled up to complete the 13 library personnel.
Pablo added more personnel are needed to be able to implement expanded library service hours up to 10 p.m.
The test period report was submitted to the city council for consideration.
Section 4 of Ordinance 16-2021, states the public library shall be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday except on holidays and special non-working days.
Aside from expanding the library service hours, the ordinance seeks the development of the public library, particularly on its physical structure.
Through the ordinance, the city government will pursue the improvement of the discussion rooms, the audio visual room, its connectivity/network, security measures, the library sections (General, Filipiniana, Law, Local History, CAR, Children, PWD, Periodicals, Special Collection, Gender), the online data sources, the Online Public Access Catalog, the conference hall, the exhibit area, and the Internet room. – Jordan G. Habbiling
April 26, 2024
