CCPL introduces garden set up for clients

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Public Library (CCPL) has introduced the concept Anita’s Garden which aims to create new future readers or users of the library.

CCPL celebrates its centennial anniversary with the outlook of charting a path forward through launching the Basa Kabataan: A Nurturing Individual United Together Towards Achieving a Common Goal or simply ANITA's Garden Library.

A garden will be developed outside the library where children, instead of sitting formally, can freely squat, roll or even play. CCPL Chief Librarian Rosario Chua said the open space will provide young readers more opportunities to learn since they can openly talk or discuss with fellow readers.

 “[It is] a concept representing the next generation of users. Ang atong bag-ong generation, they wanted nga adto sa gawas. They do not want to be enclosed. They wanted to move freely and a garden is suitable kaayo sa ilang behavior,” Chua said, emphasizing that an open space is a significant way for youngsters to enhance learning.

She said Anita’s Garden, introduced on April 8 during the opening of CCPL’s 100-year celebration, will be replicated in different mountain barangays to expand the library and bring it closer to the children. She said the garden-library will also educate them more about medicinal plants, recycling or taking care of the environment.

The construction of the garden on the grounds of CCPL will be done within the year after the building’s renovation.

The public library was opened on April 13, 1919 as the Cebu branch of the National Library of the Philippines but was closed in the ‘40s during World War II. However, CCPL was reopened in 1953.

It has been long standing for a hundred years and faced various challenges.

One of it is the appearance of the internet. Chua said the number of readers who visits the library continually decreased since people start to access information through internet.

Fortunately, the public library gained back clients through creating developments and innovations to cater the needs of the readers.

 “Ang [among] gihimo run people-centered, dili lang book centered atong service. We have to innovate services [and] create learning spaces. If we do not innovate, we (public library) will die a natural death. Bisan pag wa na gipasira sa gobyerno, musira ra gyud nag iya kung di ta mo innovate,” Chua said.

The Cebu City Public Library, recently recognized as the Philippines’ Top Performing Library, is now open 24/7 and offers various services such as free services for the blind and marginalized people, language courses and public speaking workshops.

With these new developments, the library’s growing users have reached over 160,000 people.

Today is the fifth day of CCPL’s week-long celebration. The celebration is consist of activities such as workshops, lectures, acoustic night, zumba, children activities, stargazing activity and others. — Raizza G. Aliviado, USC Intern MBG (FREEMAN)