Mandaue City to transform its public library into a ‘hybrid digital library’

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu— How about a library that is not fully digital but having the majority of its resources stored online and accessible with the proper use of the internet?

Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing discussed during the CDN Debates: Know Your Candidates on Saturday, March 29, the city’s plan of improving the state of the Mandaue City Public Library.

Quisumbing said some P12 million was already allocated by the city government for the conversion of the city library into a “more modern” learning resource center, far from its current state of being a “repository of books that people don’t want.”

Quisumbing also said they are not jealous over how the Cebu City Public Library has gained popularity due to its  24/7 operation and the opening of several sections in the library that catered even differently-abled individuals.

“The public library has been a repository of books that people don’t want anymore — kanang mga karaan nga libro…No, not really (jealous with the Cebu City Public Library). We have a different need for our library,” Quisumbing said after CDN Digital editor in charge Cris Evert Lato-Ruffolo asked him about the current “poor state” of the public library.

Quisumbing added that they planned to move the city library from its current location at the Rizal-Bonifacio Memorial building to the Mandaue Presidencia, the current city hall building, once the city’s new four-storey government center has been constructed.

Rizal-Bonifacio Memorial building that houses the Mandaue City Public Library (MCPL) / Photo from the MCPL Facebook page

“Unfortunately, if you have seen our library, it is a historical building but it is no longer conducive for (the needs of) the city of Mandaue. A part of our plan to build a new city hall, we will include the library in the old city hall,” Quisumbing said.

“We’re planning to go not fully but a majority of which is digital. We will have up to date and better learning materials for students as well as programs that are more interactive,” he added.

Quisumbing also said that having the learning materials accessible online is a beneficial move since they are grappling with how to maximize the only about 35 square kilometer area of the city.

Mandaue City Hall

Earlier this month, the Mandaue City government bared the design of the P900-million government center which will be built along A. Soriano Avenue, at the back of the Mandaue City Sports Complex.

Read more: Mandaue City bares design of P900-M green government center

City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Architect Marlo Ocleasa earlier said that the construction for the first phase of the government center — a four-story building that will house all of the city’s offices —  will take at least two years.

Apart from having the new library in Mandaue Presidencia once the government center is completed, Ocleasa also then said that the historic structure will be converted into a museum and a place to host dignitaries. /elb