Baguio City Library ready to open doors under present quarantine state
By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY - The city government is anticipating the re-opening of the three-storey Baguio City Library anytime during the current quarantine measure.
City Librarian Mercedes Bernardo said that they were ready to open, and assured the public that the education and information facility would be observing the necessary health security measures to guard against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Bernardo said the library personnel have been apprised of health protocols prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
She declared that the library already has a strategy for limiting the number of its clients at any given time to facilitate physical distancing.
Notices on wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizers, have also been readied.
“We have regular sanitation schedule in place,” Bernardo added.
The library is located at Burnham Park just across the children’s playground.
Bernardo recalled: “The library was ordered closed to the public when Baguio was placed under ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) sometime in May.”
Museums and libraries were categorized by the IATF as non-essential, and were consequently ordered closed.
The Summer Capital is expecting transition to modified general community quarantine this June.
Assistant City Librarian Easter Wahayna-Pablo disclosed plans to establish online reference services.
The plan, she said, is geared towards reducing long-hours researchers spend in the facility.
Meantime, Pablo said they are devising a system where researchers can coordinate with the library for assistance in looking for reference materials through text messaging, voice calls or e-mail.
Online storytelling to children is likewise being planned as the library gears itself towards modernization of its services as it races to keep with changing times, she added.