Plans of making the Baguio City Public Library operational for 24 hours have been shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic and budgetary constraints.
OIC City Librarian Easter Wahayna-Pablo said the management will pursue instead its online library project designed to cater those who cannot go to a library.
She encouraged students, especially those who are into distance learning and cannot find references on the Internet to try the services of the City Library.
Interested students only need to register using the link provided by the City Library then input the reference materials they need and the City Library will send a scanned copy of the material needed.
Also, in the pipeline is the procurement of more digital copies of books. The City Library has recently procured digital law books and is set to also acquire the digital version of the World Book encyclopedia.
Pablo said the 24-hour operation will be pursued in the future.
Last year, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan together with councilors Vladimir Cayabas and Levy Lloyd Orcales submitted the proposed modernization plan for the City Library.
The plan was to make the library open for 24 hours with improved facilities; more reference materials; more sections to cater to the demands of different readers; better services; and a coffee, food, and a charging station.
A portion of the library building will be leased for the operation of coffee concessionaires, food, and a charging station that will allow clients to remain in the library while doing research and related activities.
The library will also provide book-binding, photocopying, and printing services to increase the availability of references to the readers.
All income derived from these services as well as from the food concessions will be deposited in a trust account. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
