The Pampanga Provincial Library (PPL) noted that more Kapampangans have apparently discovered joy in reading books, magazines and other materials as it reported an increase in the number of general public which availed themselves of the library’s collections for the first three months of the year.
Provincial Librarian Bessie Makabali reported that a total of 1,333 readers made use of the library’s various collections in January; another 1,208 in February and 1,420 last March.
Makabali attributed this growing interest in reading to the continuous advocacy on the benefits of reading as well as the rich collections of reference and fiction books, newspapers and magazines, government publications and non-book materials in the provincial government’s library which is located at the Capitol compound.
As of March this year, the library boasts of 21,572 grand collections which were purchased from local funds, while some were part of the allocation from the National Library of the Philippines (NLP). Some so-called “Friends of the Library”, both based in the province and foreign countries, also regularly donate books, mostly fiction and general reference.
Ray Tanjoco of the Kapulungan ning Parnasong Kapampangan and currently based in the United States of America has been regularly sending boxes full of best selling novels since March 2011.
“We recently received Tanjoco’s shipment of four boxes which contained 657 volumes of books and 211 copies,” Makabali said as she added that to date, the said donor has already sent 1,584 volumes of fiction and non-fiction books, encyclopedia, children’s books and magazines.
Another friend of the library, Daniel Fausto, regularly sends his book donations all the way from his residence in the USA.
Makabali said that Governor Lilia G. Pineda lauded the generosity of these well-meaning individuals who through their book donations are able to contribute to the development of the reading public in Pampanga.
The provincial library also offers a Kiddie Corner which, aside from reading services, also conducts storytelling and audio-visual presentations to children. It also has an E-library hub and provides mobile services to communities with no public library. (Erlinda T. Yutuc, Pampanga PIO)
