Initially presented at the National Conference of Public Librarians on the theme "Public Libraries: Moving on for more effective services" held at The National Library, 27-28 October 2008, by Hon. Mayor Jesse M. Robredo, City Mayor, Naga City (also presented by Riko Vinluan at the PLAI- Bicol Region Librarians Council (BRLC) Seminar on the theme “Reinventing Library Management in the 21st Century” held at Divine Word College of Legazpi, Legazpi City, 18-20 April 2012)

1. RSR Library
Innovations in Support
of Local Governance
RIKO VINLUAN
Naga Librarian

2. Presentation Outline
 Brief history of RSR Library
 The Library and the Naga City Road
Map
 The Library and the Naga City
Governance Model
 RSR Library Best Practices
 Lessons Learned

3. Brief history
 One of the eight libraries initially set up in the
country in 1921, then called the Camarines
Sur Branch Library. Coordinated other
libraries in the province
 Nearly abolished by the provincial board a few
years after the city gained its charter.
 Management handed over to the city
government in 1954, was reorganized and
renamed the Naga City Public Library

4. Brief history
 Housed in rented buildings in downtown Naga
City
 Transferred to its own two-storey building in
2005 and renamed the Raul S. Roco Library
upon the latter’s 64th birthday
 Aside from the usual library sections, it now
has an internet kiosk, a memorabilia room of
the late senator, the DepEd library hub, a local
governance section, and AV and electronic
resources

5. In a snapshot:

6. 2005 2015
PERFORMANCE MEASURE BASE YEAR TARGET
Proportion of pupils starting Grade 1 who
finish Grade 6 (MDG) 78% 90%
Proportion of school age children in school
(MDG) 100% 100%
Proportion of first year high school students
who finish high school 69% 85%
Prevalence of underweight children under 5 less than less than
years of age (MDG) 1% 1%

7. Naga City Road Map
 The RSR Library contributes to the attainment
of our vision by engaging in programs and
projects that will encourage the youth to finish
their education:
 at least 90% of Grade 1 pupils finish Grade 6 and
 at least 85% of first year high school enrolees
finish fourth year.

8. 2005 2015
PERFORMANCE MEASURE BASE YEAR TARGET
Proportion of programs and policies
formulated, implemented, monitored and
evaluated with citizen or civil society 80% 99%
participation
Proportion of randomly surveyed city residents
who have an understanding of the city’s history, n.d. 90%
culture and arts
Percentage of households practicing
segregation at source 50% 99%

9. Naga City Road Map
 The RSR Library contributes to the
attainment of our vision by engaging in
programs and projects that will encourage
the promotion of good governance and
responsible citizenship

10. THE NAGA GOVERNANCE MODEL
 Progressive development
perspective. Seeks
prosperity-building tempered Progressive
by an enlightened perception perspective
of the poor
 Functional partnerships.
Vehicles that enable the city
to tap community resources
for priority undertakings Good urban
governance
 Participation. Mechanisms
that ensure long-term
sustainability of local
undertakings Partnerships Participation

11. Governance Model
 Progressive Leadership – Seeks to
harness the Library as a tool for the city’s
overall development..
 for attaining the city’s MDG on education
 for promoting good governance and
responsible citizenship
 for attaining the city’s targets on poverty
alleviation

12. Governance Model
 Functional partnerships –enables the
RSR Library to tap community resources
for its programs
 Jollibee Foods Corporation extends its
popular menu free of charge in all official
activities of the Library
 MNCCI and KBP for story telling activities
 Universities (e.g. DLSU) and foundations as
source of library materials

13. Governance Model
 Functional partnerships:
 Local computer schools (STI, Datamex,
CCDI, PCFC) as source of student volunteers
 Local school libraries (Holy Rosary Minor
Seminary, AMA Computer College, CCDI,
PCFC) as a partner for exchanging library
resources
 Naga City Scholars Guild as source of
volunteer manpower for day-to-day library
operations

14. Governance Model
 Participation:
 Engages Library stakeholders in planning and
implementation of its programs, projects and
activities
 Generates community support and helps
ensure sustainability of its programs
 Helps align library activities with the city’s
road map

15. Innovations
 Library Rewards Program.
 Books are given points
 Higher points for Bikol and Filipiniana
materials and those given national awards
 Borrowers who collect certain points are given
rewards (mugs and T-shirts) and special
privileges (more number of books that can be
borrowed)
 Promotes awareness of Philippine and Bikol
history and culture

16. Innovations
 Annual Library Lecture Series –
 Promotes awareness and appreciation of
local writers and historians and their role in
promoting Bikol culture and history
 Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera -
mainstreaming Bikol language and
literature
 Ms. Eugenia Apostol - responsible
journalism, effective communication and
transparent governance

17. Innovations
 Annual Library Lecture Series
 Bikol historian Dr. Danny Gerona -
importance of understanding local history
 Columnist Conrado de Quiros - literature
and governance
 Poet Alan Popa – changing paradigm of
Bicol Poetry
 Mrs. Prudencia C. Cruz - impact of local
history materials in public libraries

18. Innovations
 Children’s Bookfest.
 Targets pre-schoolers from the city’s educare
centers and elementary pupils up to Grade 2.
 Select individuals from City Hall, the
academe, the media, business community
and civic organizations take turns in reading
children’s books and amplifying them for the
benefit of their young listeners.
 Jollibee provides free food and gift items for
the participants

19. Innovations
 “Be a reader: Rediscover Raul S.
Roco @ the Library”
 Encourages students to rediscover the
ideals of Raul S. Roco, a distinguished
leader and public servant.
 Students research his life at the library and
join in an inter-school speech competition
centering on the former senator’s principles
and ideals.
 Thru this activity, the youth are encouraged
to be good and responsible citizens

20. Innovations
 Byaheng Bukmobil –
• Deploys the city’s Book Mobile to public
schools in far-flung barangays.
• Enhances learning in public schools and
inculcates love for reading.
• To generate more readers, a local
personality is brought in to do story-telling.
• Beneficiaries of this project are 10 schools
located in the city’s upland and agricultural
barangays whose distance from the Library
makes commuting expensive for their pupils.

21. Innovations
 Databank Exposition –
 The library’s collection of books on Bicol
history, arts and culture as well as old
photos of the city are exhibited during
historical celebrations and other events.
 Makes key resources of the library more
accessible to a larger audience
 Recent expositions:
 15 Bikol Martyrs,
 1920-1950 Bikolano writers and photos of Naga
City
 Bikol Book Collections.

22. Innovations
 Inter Library Resource Sharing
Program –
 Regular exchange of books between RSR
Library and the libraries of:
 Holy Rosary Minor Seminary
 Philippine Computer Foundation College
 Computer Communication Development
Institute
 AMA Computer College

23. Innovations
 Inter Library Resource Sharing
Program –
 Collection of all partners are multiplied
 Directs available funding for the acquisition of
other priority books
 Minimizes duplication of library materials
 Encourages sharing of good practices among
the different librarians.

24. Lessons Learned
 A library, particularly those operated by a local
government unit, must be harnessed in support
of local development
 A public library can multiply its resources by
recognizing the unique interests of potential
partners
 Participation of library stakeholders in planning
and implementation is essential for the success
and sustainability of its programs