To improve the collections, programs, and services being offered by the local library, librarians and staff of the Pasig City Library conducted benchmarking activities at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the Manila City Library on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
The representatives of the NLP prepared a guided tour of the library premises and facilitated discussions with various departments within the institution for the guests from Pasig.
Officers from the NLP’s technical services sector gave a brief orientation and overview of the library’s services, specifically the Bibliographic Services Division and the Catalog Division.
Staff assigned to the library’s Filipiniana Division also gave a short presentation on their preservation and conservation methods and techniques for their prized collections.
The NLP, located in Ermita, Manila, is the main “repository of printed and recorded cultural heritage of the country and other intellectual, literary resources and information sources.”
According to its website, the NLP “commits to acquire, organize, and preserve Filipiniana resources, ensure equitable access and provide inclusive and resilient services to support intellectual, cultural and national development in accordance with the applicable requirements while continually improving quality management services.”
After the benchmarking activity at the NLP, Pasig’s librarians and staff visited the Manila City Main Library at Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila.
The librarians of the two cities exchanged knowledge and techniques in conducting daily library operations.
The guests were presented with the Manila library’s manual of operation, memorandum policies, program projects and activities, as well as other pertinent documents available and archived in the library.
Previously, members from the Pasig City Office of General Services — Records Management and Archives Division (OGS-RMAD) visited the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) to learn about the best archiving practices for records management and preservation.