The Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Learning Resource and Museum, named after the noble son of Jaro, is now the new home of The Iloilo City Public Library (ICPL)
In case you didn't know, Graciano Lopez Jaena was an Ilonggo editor and orator whose writings and literary works rallied against Spanish invaders, which helped to move the Filipino people to demand change.
Situated in Fajardo Street, the Iloilo City Public Library aims to provide accessible learning modules to the parents for their children, ages 6 to 12 years old from Grade 1 - Grade 6 that can be printed online. The library will also have sensory books for children with special needs.
The Iloilo City Public Library has its own Department of Information of Information and Communication Technology or DICT, wherein free computers are available for everyone. The library is open for 24 hours.
With the success of the rehabilitation of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Shrine, Mayor Jerry Trenas also wants the establishment of shrine in honor of heroic Ilonggos in other districts as well
"After this, we will have an Avanceña shrine and library in Arevalo. We will allow the younger generation to know more about the important persons in their districts who contributed a lot to our lives today. We are what we are because of what they did for us during their time," Treñas stressed.
A tribute to Arevalo's pride Ramon Avancena, the former chief justice of Supreme Court. Part of La Paz plaza redevelopment will also host a library.
New books have already been purchased and will be delivered soon said City Librarian Marion Aguirre.
ICPL promotes love for reading among children and helps students in their research.
There have been many requests for ICPL to open on Saturdays said Aguirre. She added that the plan to extend the weekday services will be presented to the mayor for approval.
ICPL joined the World Read Aloud Day on February 2 with Iloilo River Plains Integrated School as representative. They also sent the recorded presentation to LitWorld, an international organization based in New York, USA.
ICPL proposed to the mayor to join the 63rd Public Library Day of the National Library of the Philippines. Its proposal is in lieu with the 2022 Istoryafest in collaboration with the Philippine Librarian Association Inc.-Western Visayas Region Librarians Council (PLAI-WVRLC).
"We will compile our online videos and show the films to all pediatric vax sites for kids to learn and be entertained," said Aguirre.
For questions, ICPL also entertains online queries via their FB page.