Bontoc, Mountain Province – Learners and book enthusiasts have new and quality books to borrow and read when visiting the Municipal Library located at the 3rd Floor of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
On behalf of Mayor Franklin Odsey, Sangguniang Bayan member Jerome Tudlong, Jr., and Municipal Librarian Chamreine Casiwen recently received 925 volumes of book references and children’s books, and two rolls of book covers from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) on November 28, 2021, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Aside from the books, the NBDB handed over the Certificates of Completion to six teachers from Barangay Tocucan who they trained as volunteer community storytellers.
The NBDB is mandated to promote book readership, especially among the young and neo-literates, through programs promoting literacy and good reading habits, books fairs and exhibits, and an efficient nationwide system of libraries and reading materials in rural areas.
According to Casiwen, the NBDB has partnered with the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) in the implementation of Book Nook Project 2021, a flagship program of the NBDB which aims to provide readily available Filipino –authored and published books. The year 2021 is the pilot implementation of the Book Nook Project under Executive Director Charisse Aquino- Tugade supported by Chairperson Dante Francis Ang II and the governing board.
Per a press release from the NBDB, the Book Nook is the very first reading and storytelling space in the Philippines placed in 52 indigenous and remote sites all over the Philippines. Reading materials that are available for the public are fiction, non-fiction books, reference books that focus on culture, history, values, environment, health, science, work, identity, diversity and peace.
The NBDB envisions the Book Nook as a project in honing a culture of reading in English and Filipino languages, as well as writing and creating. Also, it aims to make books accessible to everyone so that local publishers can have their books be read by more people.
In a separate interview, Mayor Odsey expressed his profound gratitude to NBDB adding that it will encourage children to read children’s stories, thereby developing their reading and comprehension skills.
The mayor added that the books donated to the municipality will uphold a lifelong reading habit among the public, especially the children.
“Reading books are important because it develops our thoughts, gives endless knowledge, and enriches us. Books are the most effective tool in achieving educational growth as well as preserving our national heritage,” the Odsey remarked.
With this, he encouraged the public to be responsible borrowers and users of books available at the Bontoc Municipal Library for others to borrow and read too. // Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU