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Tag: National Library of the Philippines

  • Book Nook Conference 2024 Showcases Strength of Unity in Expanding Reading Access

    Book Nook Conference 2024 Showcases Strength of Unity in Expanding Reading Access

    Deriving inspiration from the Cordillera folk song “Dong Dong Ay!”, the much-anticipated Book Nook Conference 2024 underscored the power of unity in promoting reading among the Filipino youth. The spirit of cooperation resonated throughout the event as attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the shared mission: “Aklat para sa lahat.”

    Just like one big, happy family in a grand reunion, area coordinators and partners from 113 Book Nook sites across the Philippines convened from August 28 to 30 at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) in Manila for the annual Book Nook Conference. Organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the conference provided a collaborative space for volunteers and representatives to exchange insights, share best practices, and elevate the standards of their reading centers.

    Collaborative discussions and goals

    Participants engaged in robust discussions, tackling challenges, planning strategies, and exchanging success stories. The conference served as a platform for site partners to address ongoing issues and brainstorm solutions. Key sessions focused on refining decision-making processes, enhancing program execution, and fostering problem-solving approaches across the country’s diverse regions.

    NBDB Chairperson Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II and NLP Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano opened the conference, welcoming 79 delegates representing 113 Book Nook sites. Over the next two days, NBDB officials led practical sessions to equip site partners with the tools and skills to enrich their community reading spaces.

    Empowering site partners

    In the opening session, the NBDB reviewed the core principles of the Book Nook Project. NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade gave an update on the project’s progress, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a nationwide reading culture and urging participants to rekindle their passion for the project’s mission. “Reading should not just be an event or program, but, above all else, a habit. With that, I call on everyone to take this conference as an opportunity to start thinking about the kind of future you hope to build for your Book Nook site,” she urged.

    Daniel Mariano, Officer-in-Charge of NBDB’s Readership Development Division, and Ana Manalaysay, Head of the Reading Spaces Section, encouraged site partners to reflect on their success stories and envision a future where their communities evolve into self-sustaining, vibrant reading hubs. Allyn Canja, Book Nook Project Partnerships Committee Head, presented methods for improving public service, while Lyka Manglal-lan from the NBDB’s Policy and Industry Research Division shared insights from the 2023 National Readership Survey, highlighting innovative solutions to combat the nation’s reading crisis.

    Building inclusive, innovative, and expansive spaces

    Day 2 was headlined by actor, activist, and speaker Mae Paner (Juana Change), who moderated discussions on creating inclusive, forward-thinking reading spaces. Standout sites, including BN Guinobatan (Albay) for Innovation, BN Carles (Iloilo) for Inclusivity, and BN Sagay (Negros Occidental) for Expansion, were showcased for their unique strategies for overcoming challenges.

    National Program Coordinator Carlo Ebeo shared fresh perspectives on how Book Nooks can forge deeper community connections. Breakout sessions featured NLP’s Melanie “Melai” Ramirez on dynamic storytelling techniques and Jean Ico, NLP Section Head of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Special Collections, leading hands-on book care and binding.

    In the closing session, Dr. Excelsa “Etchel” Tongson from UP Diliman introduced a framework for gender-fair practices, encouraging attendees to foster harmony within their reading communities.

    Looking ahead: transforming spaces, inspiring readers

    On the final day, participants toured the NLP, the Quezon City Public Library, and the Valenzuela City Library to observe exemplary models of excellence. These visits inspired attendees with new ideas for enhancing their own sites and building stronger community engagement through reading programs.

    Though managing a Book Nook site comes with its challenges, participants left the conference energized, ready to advance the vision of thriving, accessible reading spaces across the Philippines.

    NBDB Press Release

    20 September 2024

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Ma. Divine R. Caraecle

    +639199749770

    mdcaraecle@books.gov.ph

  • Reading Advocates Decry Lukewarm Reading Culture, Draft Provisional Readers’ Agenda Presented in First-of-Its-Kind Milestone Meeting

    THE National Alliance of Reading Advocates (NARA), a group composed of readership advocates in the country and a project by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), held its first important NARA Milestone Meeting recently, where the provisional outline of the NARA Readers’ Agenda was presented.

    The group also decried the lukewarm state of reading culture in the country, as shown in the country’s State of the Reading Nation (SORNA) for the second quarter of the year.

    The alliance will work collaboratively in drafting and finalizing the NARA Readers’ Agenda, and hopes to finish it in time for the grand launch on November 16, 2024. Once fully ratified, NARA will then support activities and interventions in line with its contents, and shall form the basis of the NBDB’s readership interventions for the upcoming year, both as an individual readership advocacy agency and as the NARA secretariat.

    The NARA Readers’ Agenda is a guidebook that will contain NARA’s concrete vision for readership in the Philippines based on its analysis of the state of the reading nation. In laying out advocacy areas, it will be able to concretely grasp and measure its influence on reading communities and the reading culture.

    The second quarter SORNA, meanwhile, highlighted three key points, namely, the importance of community engagement and support networks, teacher training and professional development, and the issue of access to resources and materials. It also noted that efforts to boost reading should now extend to the farthest and underserved areas of the country to boost readership and spark a love for reading.

    The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), one of the organizations that attended the milestone meeting, earlier expressed its intention to work with the NBDB with regard to the quarterly SORNA, as expressed by NRCP Executive Director, Bernardo Sepeda, such as the provision of research assistance to NBDB members.

    The NARA is a unified network anchored on a collaborative working environment in order to better spread the news on existing readership initiatives. This is a project that serves as an integral part of the NBDB’s ongoing efforts to boost readership, given declining reading scores among Filipinos.

    Aside from the NRCP, more than 20 other organizations attended the meeting, such as the National Museum of the Philippines, National Library of the Philippines, AHA Learning Center, Ayala Foundation, Inc., St. Mary’s Publishing, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Libro Mo, Kaalam Ko Project, The Inteligente Publishing, Inc., Association of Progressive and Orthodox Litterateurs and Literature Originators, Pinoy Reading Buddies, Inc., Kuwento at Kultura à Paris, St. Mary’s Publishing Corp., Pinoy Reads Pinoy Book, Laguna Province Private Schools and Administrators Association, The Storytelling Project, Iloilo Provincial Library and Archives, BINHI English Literacy Foundation, Sadiri Publishing, UST Library, International Board on Books for Young People, IBBY Ph, and Anak han Sta. Rita.

    For media inquiries, please contact: (NBDB PRESS RELEASE-12 July 2024)

    Divine Reyes-Caraecle

    NBDB Communications

    news@books.gov.ph

    0919-9749770

  • NBDB urges focus on readership and literacy initiatives; ramps up efforts to boost reading among Filipinos

    NBDB urges focus on readership and literacy initiatives; ramps up efforts to boost reading among Filipinos

    The National Book Development Board (NBDB) urges policymakers, educators, community leaders, and stakeholders to prioritize readership and literacy initiatives, while also involving parents in efforts to make reading more accessible to all segments of the population.

    This call follows the release of the 2023 National Readership Survey (NRS) results, showing a notable decline in non-school book readership among Filipino adults and children. The survey revealed adult readership at 42% and children at 47% in 2023. Access to books emerged as the primary reason for the decline, with limited awareness of public libraries and constraints like time and distance cited as barriers to visits.

    These results have prompted the NBDB to reaffirm its commitment to bolstering existing programs and policies to reignite a love for reading among Filipinos.

    “These findings, which provide a much-needed nuanced understanding of Filipinos’ reading habits and preferences, reinforce the fact that access to quality books remains a pressing issue in book publishing and education, so the sectors’ focus now clearly has to be on addressing gaps in access,” said NBDB Chairperson Dante “Klink” Ang II.

    Moreover, Chairperson Ang stated that the NBDB and its partners will examine various proposals to develop meaningful policy directives aligned with the objectives of Republic Act No. 7743, which aims to establish congressional, city, and municipal libraries, along with barangay reading centers nationwide. According to a 2018 study by the National Library of the Philippines, only 3% of LGUs have local libraries across the country.

    “One of the main hindrances to reading revealed by the survey is access to reading facilities such as public libraries, particularly in the provinces. Some of them are really beyond the reach of those living in mountainous areas, for example. Besides expanding the Book Nook project, we will also work to bring libraries closer to the people,” Chairperson Ang added.

    Meanwhile, NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade emphasized the significance of enhancing NBDB’s readership efforts, particularly through initiatives like the Book Nook project. This project establishes reading and storytelling centers across the Philippines, featuring locally published books and serving as distribution hubs for publishers. By offering quality books in various Philippine languages, the Book Nook project addresses access and literacy issues in a single space, fostering education and community engagement in a safe and inclusive environment where visitors can participate in activities, borrow books, and take them home at no cost.

    Additionally, the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) promotes a robust reading culture while providing guidance on institutional book purchases. Like the Book Nook project, the PBF brings quality books to readers nationwide while facilitating collaboration between major buyers of educational resources and Philippine publishers.

    To encourage involvement in the local book economy, NBDB launched Booklatan sa Bayan, inviting both avid and passive readers to explore literature and culture. NBDB collaborates with reading advocacy groups such as the Reading Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc., and the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc., to synergize efforts in enriching the nation’s reading culture.

    “Programming must work hand in hand with policy. Besides readership programs, we will push for policies that democratize distribution and enable publishers to publish more affordable books,” Executive Director Tugade emphasized.

    “These survey findings should serve as a call to arms: an opportunity to acknowledge and better understand the current state of readership, to reframe the problems they pose in a way that we are pushed to act and change them rather than dwell on them. If attitudes toward reading are less than desirable, then the responsibility to create environments that make reading possible lies with us. The NBDB is hopeful and renews its commitment to better its programs and policies,” Executive Director Tugade added.

    The NBDB highlighted that, according to the survey findings, overall attitudes towards books and reading remained positive. The majority of respondents recognized the importance of books beyond educational and professional contexts. Key insights from the survey included the most popular non-school book (NSB) genres among adults (the Bible) and children (picture books), the preferred reading language (Filipino for both age groups), preferred formats (printed books for both age groups), and primary considerations when selecting NSBs (availability for both age groups).

    The NBDB enlisted the Social Weather Stations (SWS) to conduct the 2023 National Readership Survey from November 14th to 20th, 2023, with a sample size of 2,400 adults aged 18 and above, and 2,400 children aged 8-17. This survey is the most comprehensive examination of Filipinos’ reading habits and preferences and is expected to provide invaluable insights for the agency’s readership-focused initiatives.

    Reference: (PRESS RELEASE ON THE 2023 NATIONAL READERSHIP SURVEY – March 22, 2024)

    National Book Development Board