National Library brings 'Koha' to Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  – Thirty-four public libraries in this province each received a complete unit of the Integrated Library System from the National Library of the Philippines.

Edgardo Quiros, chief of the Information Technology Division of the National Library, told The STAR that Pangasinan is the sixth province-recipient of this project after Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, La Union and Benguet. Next would be Bohol, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

The project, named Koha, from the Maori (New Zealand) word meaning to give, is an open source integrated library system developed by New Zealand that was successful and eventually shared to the world.

The project was first implemented by the National Library in 1996 and 2000, and the present distribution has incorporated changes in the system brought by changes in technology, according to Quiros.

The recipients are the Pangasinan Provincial Library, four city libraries in Dagupan, San Carlos, Alaminos and Urdaneta and 29 municipal libraries in Alcala, Asingan, Balungao, Bani, Bayambang, Binalonan, Binmaley, Bolinao, Bugallon, Burgos, Calasiao, Laoac, Labrador, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Natividad, Rosales, San Fabian, San Jacinto, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Sison, Umingan and Villasis.

Quiros said these libraries are recognized by the National Library based on Republic Act 7743’s qualifications.

He said the system provided to these libraries is automated support for library operation that includes entire system budget planning, procurement, delivery management, cataloguing, indexing, classification, report generation, bar coding, maintenance of records, among others.

On the part of users, searching would be simply done in lieu of card catalogue to locate the material needed, Quiros added.

He added that all the library operational concerns are covered by the automation and it has a digital library component wherein the library client can search and read the book on the computer.

Evangeline Paragas, provincial librarian, said the donation is timely and relevant in this growing age of technology.

Paragas said they are thankful to Gov. Amado Espino Jr. who built a spacious library three years ago that is patronized by students because of available research materials and convenience.

Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. encouraged the recipient librarians to use the donation to the fullest.

“Not every day does this happen. Pangasinan is very lucky to be a recipient,” he said.