The
program addresses the long felt need for reading and research
materials for the 12,000 student population in 42 far-flung
barangays of the city. Faced with the problem that not one
of the 42 elementary schools and 7 high schools has a library,
a satellite library (managed by a barangay library aide
and supervised by the city librarian) was established in
each of the 7 barangay high schools. As a counterpart of
the barangays, the buildings housing the satellite libraries
have been constructed out of their own funds.
As
an information and resource center, each library is equipped
with research and instructional materials, encyclopedias,
reference materials, books, magazines, newspaper and a variety
of livelihood and how-to materials, which were either purchased
by the city government or donated by private organizations.
Through the program, the habit of reading had been developed
among the residents and students. It has also contributed
in the improvement of their reading and spelling skills
as well as in their overall aptitude level. Average rate
of daily users ranges from 30 to 40 -- majority of whom
are students, housewives, and out-of-school youths. Among
the women (especially the housewives), the library has been
helpful as an alternative source of learning especially
on new livelihood technologies.
