Reading for all: The Cebu City public library

CEBU, Philippines - Libraries are an essential part of having an educated and literate population. They provide people with access to books for information and for their enjoyment. They allow people from all walks of life?young and adult, professionals to laborers, students to even small children?to gain knowledge and be exposed to the many different worlds that books have to offer.

The Cebu City Public Library and Information Center (CCPL), located in Osmeña Boulevard, provides easy access to the public's information needs. It offers free internet services for research purposes, free access to more comprehensive libraries of the world through the Philippine E-lib, and library collections such as Filipiniana, Cebuana, magazines and periodicals.

While they serve as a repository of various information sources for public use, they also provide services for children. For example, they have free preschool story times and puppet show to encourage early literacy for children. CCPL offers monthly storytelling sessions for 6- to 10-year-olds and puppet shows for 3- to 6-year-olds. These are usually slated on the last Saturday of every month from 8:30-10 a.m. To ensure that children get to enjoy, these sessions are usually limited to 30 children (walk-in visitors are welcome to join).

CCPL usually invites elementary and daycare students from the various barangays in Cebu City to join the activity. Some schools and individuals offer their expertise in storytelling and puppetry. Since CCPL provides free breakfast for the participants, they usually seek for sponsorships from companies for the provision of the free meal.

Aside from the scheduled activities, they also accommodate walk-in groups by appointment. 

While children enjoy the activity, parents are given seminars and symposia on parenting styles, children's rights, and the value of reading in child development.

So what are you waiting for? Bring your child at CCPL and join their various activities!

If you or your company are interested in helping develop the literacy skills of Cebu City's children, contact the Cebu Public Library's Office at 412-4460 or 253-1526 and look for Ruth Chua. You may volunteer your services, support their activities, or donate children's books.

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The FREEMAN and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. is running weekly features on Early Childhood Care and Development to emphasize the importance of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and to increase public support for ECCD. (FREEMAN)