KIDAPAWAN CITY – The provincial government of Cotabato continues to promote reading in remote areas of the province via a mobile library.
Dubbed "Library-on-Wheels,” this facility has been roaming around for about 10 years in different public schools in the province to promote reading and introduce modern methods of reading as well as storytelling to school children amid the use of mobile phones.
PUPILS in Arakan, Cotabato play puzzles as part of the activities of the mobile library. (Cotabato provincial government)
Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said that the mobile library was launched sometime during her first term as governor.
“I wanted to encourage and promote the love of reading especially among elementary children,” said Mendoza, whose first term as governor started in 2010. “We wanted to make the books, computers and tablets accessible to the barangays.”
By bringing the mobile library to barangays, especially far-flung areas, the governor said that children will have an idea what a library looks like. The province is composed of a city, 17 towns, and about 500 barangays.
Mendoza said that they have no plans yet of adding another mobile library.
She admitted that it is very hard to find a qualified librarian. “We just keep on adding books because it cannot be avoided that some books would be left behind because some kids will cry and ask to keep the books.”
The mobile library has been operating since it was launched and was only temporarily suspended during the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
Every week, hundreds of elementary school children are being served by the mobile library.
Headed by Provincial Librarian Aurora Nerida, the mobile library was recently brought to remote barangays of Ganita and Macan in the mountainous town of Arakan. These barangays are at least 50 kilometers away from the provincial capitol here where the mobile library is based.
Three-hundred sixty-nine students from these villages gathered for different learning activities such as puzzle-making, story-telling time, tablet sessions, and talking pen sessions.
Mendoza said the mobile library will visit any barangay in the province for as long as it is accessible.
While there are libraries in most of schools, Mendoza said that the provincial government want to bring books closer to children. “If you don’t bring the books closer to the children, they will never appreciate it.”