A new air-conditioned public library was inaugurated last Dec. 18 at the City of Naga, southern Cebu to promote the love of reading among the residents.
The public library, which stands on a 188-square meter lot fronting the sea, is located behind the public stage at the center of the St. Francis Ocean Park.
Project sponsor SPC Power Corporation, formerly Salcon Power, in barangay Colon, City of Naga said it will continue doing its share to increase literacy rates in the city through the library.
SPC envisions the Naga City Library to be a primary information center equipped with electronic and non-electronic educational materials and equipment.
The library also has a computer laboratory inside with Internet connection.
The SPC said the library would serve as a depository of materials essential to local governance, citizenship, culture and history.
Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong and SPC president and chief executive officer Dennis Villareal, who were present during the blessing and inauguration of the public library, were elated upon witnessing the 30 grade 3 pupils of Naga Public Elementary School attending the story-telling session organized by the city with the group Basadours as one of the highlights of the event.
“This is the first story-telling session we have with Basadours. I am looking forward to doing this regularly in Naga in 2015,” said lawyer Kristine Chiong, daughter and chief of staff Mayor Chiong.
“Sessions like these promote love of books,” she said.
The Basadours is a non-government organization of young people with the passion for organizing story-telling sessions for children.
“Knowledge is the key to liberating our people from poverty,” said Villareal in a brief message after the blessing. “It is a legacy that would improve people’s lives,” he added.
The new library opened last Jan. 5.
Aside from the computer laboratory, the public library also has a Children’s Section, a General Reference Reading Section and a specific area for those with disability.
Mayor Chiong expressed gratitude to the SPC Power, which will run the facility.
The SPC officials said they hired a librarian from a state university in Cebu City to manage the facility.