The Negros Occidental High School Class '79 launched its first Community Library project in partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City.
The project — dubbed as "Let's Read!" is a fulfillment of the Class '79 plan to expand its community engagement.
The project has the potential of enriching the literacy of 118 Day Care students, 1,418 elementary students and 620 high school and college students in the barangay. There are now close to 400 books in the library, and the inventory is growing.
These books are donations from members and friends of NOHS Class '79.
NOHS Class '79 president Dr. Ella Fe Oyos stressed that the aim of the project is to make children grow up as book lovers as she envisions the Community Library as a venue to promote the value of reading as an enjoyable and relaxing activity.
Christina Arellano and her five-year-old daughter Georgia Faith were taking home a copy of Little Red Riding Hood. They were both looking forward to reading it at home together. Christina is very thankful that there is now a community library where they can read and borrow books close to home.
The model that NOHS Class '79 uses relies on the strong engagement of the partner Barangay and there are compelling and practical reasons why a partnership model is an effective strategy in building a sustainable library.
These will support students in their online instruction and assist community residents in creating content including word processing documents, email messages and limited personal work within a safe and controlled environment.
Barangay Captain Juan Malayang allocated the project with a room in a newly built Community Health Centre. The SK of Barangay Cabug enthusiastically embraced the project.
This offers them an amazing opportunity to strengthen their civic activities and provides them positive volunteer work experiences.
"Mothers will find it helpful having a study area for students in the barangay. The books will enhance reading skills. For college students like me, the internet service will help reduce my expenses for online studies," said Angela Borja, one of the SK library volunteers.
