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Case Study

Bulacan Provincial Library


The public library is located at the ground floor of the Gat Blas F. Ople building beside the Museum
exhibit and infront of the ramp. It provides books and other reading media that came from the National
Library, purchased using the local fund, or donations from private individuals and organizations. It kept
books that are mostly about the province of Bulacan. Information about the culture, history, and famous
heroes that came from the province are what most of the visiting clients find inside the library.
Users
The public library usually serves students from nearby schools and universities such as Bulacan State
University and Bulacan Polytechnic College. Aside from them, board exam reviewers also visit the library
to study. Several researchers from Manila visit the library mosty to gather information about Bulacan.
Researchers from famous universities like the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University of the
Philippines, and Philippine Normal University browse the librarys shelves to know more about the
history and culture of the province. Mr. Marlon Hipolito serves as the head librarian since 2009 up to the
present.
Sections
The provincial library houses around 12,000 books and a seating capacity of 60a standard for most of
the libraries. The library has several sections namely the reference section and the thesis and
dissertation section in the librarians counter in the ground floor, the leisure/fiction, circulation and
filipiniana section also in the ground floor, and the bulacaniana and rizaliana section in the mezzanine of
the library. The Bulacaniana Section is located beside the Filipiniana Section. It is rich in the Cultural
Heritage of the Province and all materials are kept for research purposes only. The Filipiniana and
Circulation section has a total area of 50.22 sq. m. The Reference and Rizaliana section is adjacent to
the information desk of the library. Leisure / Fiction Sections has a total area of 12. 15 sq. m.
Activities
Aside from serving clients, the provincial library also conducts events like library orientations to schools
and orphanages who request for a visit. This helps students and children be familiar with the library and
encourage them to make reading a habbit. They also host film showings inside and outside the library.
Film showings inside the library are carried out in the 2nd floor mezzanine and can hold up to 50 seats.
Educational film showings outside the library are conducted in schools especially during the National
Book Week where they also perform storytelling to children. In 2013, the library visited about 7 different
schools, with 200 students that participated in each presentation. Film showings that were conducted
were about national heroes and their life stories and other inspiring short films.

Analysis of the existing building scenario
Mr. Marlon Hipolito, the newly appointed head librarian of the Bulacan Provincial Library, cited his
experience in the library since when he took office 5 years ago. During the interview, he is asked to give
any problems and suggestions he would personally wish to change or improve in the library. As its
primary user, he firstly suggested better ventilation throughout the room. The only part of the library
that has an air conditioning unit is the room at the second floor which kept the bulacaniana and
rizaliniana sections. They have already requested for addition AC units for the ground floor since they
still use the jalousie windows. According to him, the relief in temperature will not be the only benefit of
having air conditioning units throughout the library but also it will help in reducing the pollution that the
adjacent road and parking area gives. The pollution will worsen the condition of the books since this
promotes brittleness of the pages. He said that although he experienced students who go to the library
just for the cool environment, the students will still get books they like and start to read. Unevitably, this
will help them learn more even if they just went to the library to lessen the heat in the first place.
Another problem for the librarian is the need for a technical section in the library. OPAC or online public
access catalog is now used in libraries today as a substitute for the card catalog. Unfortunately, this is
also not provided in the provincial libraries. Computers and internet access are not also available and is
still in a pending request for units to use for research. Assistive features for PWDs and blind people are
also encouraged because this library is held up for public use.
If possible, the librarian also wishes to conduct regular film showing/storytelling schedule for children in
different schools. With the spaces provided inside the library, a good space programming plan will help
to accomodate users who will use the library in a regular basis.

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