2000 Gawad Alab ng Haraya Awardee

(Alab ng Haraya Awards)

Davao City Library has initiated several projects geared towards helping smaller communities create their own library. Alternatively, should this prove too ambitious, a program to bring the library through a story-telling caravan to the barangay emerged.

At the helm of these endeavors stood Nora Fe Alajar, whose unwavering commitment to the Library resulted in its being considered one of the outstanding libraries during the centenary of Philippine Public Libraries.

"Share a Book for a Cause" traces its roots to a response the Library made to the requests of barangay officials for the provision of more books and materials, especially for children. Alajar, City Librarian of the Davao City Library, headed the program. She cited the information technology explosion and the automation of library facilities that resulted in greater demands for library services. She added that the people in the barangays required similar materials and support, particularly in the absence of an accessible library infrastructure. With the support of the city government, non-government organizations, and private entities, the program continues to assist various communities in the region.

Believing in the healing power of stories, the Library likewise launched its story-telling program, a caravan that brings a group of gifted storytellers to a selected barangay for a session of story-telling and other activities, in collaboration with the Barangay and Cultural Affairs Division of the City Mayor’s Office. The story-telling group comprises librarians and teachers from the public and private schools of the city who are eager to share with young children the power to talk away whatever pains they may have experienced.

What fuel these programs are the vision and the desire shared by many to empower each child to imagine and build a better future

Gawad Alab ng Haraya at Dangal ng Haraya Guidelines