JULY THOUGHTS: FOUR IN STORE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

It's harder to get out of bed these days. The mornings are cold. The water is cold. And umbrellas, well, they're in fashion again. You prefer not to carry one around, but it's better if you did.

The falling rains signal the end of summer, and the start of another wet season. While the library was occupied with its orientation of new students, July and its monsoons have sneaked up on us, leaving some to wonder where June had ran off to. It's gone now, if you haven't noticed. Time flies, Lib Lifers, time flies.

Speaking of time flying, it only seems like yesterday when two new activities were introduced during the library orientation: The Human Books invitational talk, and the Book Trailer Making Contest, both explained here. Those were in 2018. Now at the start of another school year, four additional initiatives shall be added to the mix.

Quiet on the Set

"Shh!"

We all know that sound and what it means. Especially in the library.  It works, but not always. Silence must be maintained for all users, but shushing can be tiresome and even lead to misunderstanding sometimes. This is where the Noise Level Chart comes into play.

No need to say "quiet, please."

The chart is used when people start to become noisy or misbehave in the library. It is placed on a group's table and is visible from the circulation counter. The Noise Level Chart is color-based: yellow for noticeable noise (initial warning), orange for noisy and distracting (secondary warning), and red for extremely loud and disruptive (final warning). Once the chart is flipped to red, causing further disturbance shall result in the group's exit from the library.

Seeing red: no further warnings ahead.

This initiative intends to make the act of silencing simpler, without having to appear like a strict disciplinarian to students.

The Search for Young Blood

If the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Young Blood column has proven anything, it's that the youth have never been in short supply of talented writers. In fact, a book compilation based on the essays that appeared in YB has now reached volume 7 as of April 2019.

Be a writer for the blog!

The library wants to tap into this very same raw talent and give students the chance to have their articles published on this blog – Lib Life Ko. As the entries posted here have mostly been left in the hands of the library staff, a Blog Writing Contest planned for August seeks to inject new blood to the site by inviting students to contribute their own library-related write-ups. By doing so, this initiative intends to make the blog appeal better to young readers, and raise student awareness on Lib Life Ko's existence.

Sharing is Caring

In today's social media age, one has probably retweeted tweets from Twitter, shared posts from Facebook, or reposted media from Instagram. This is how appreciation for something is done now, and is a person's way of saying "Hey, I found this interesting, take a look!"

Passing it forward.

The library takes inspiration from this act through its Share It initiative, wherein a student borrows a library book and posts a picture on Facebook. The student tags friends, encouraging them to read the book themselves. The post that gains the most reactions and comments receives an award.

Hear Me Roar

And finally, we come to the last initiative, Pasalitang Tula or Spoken Word Poetry. Sometimes, even the most introverted person can have the most interesting things to say, and the most tortured soul can come up with the most beautiful words to write.

You need not be introverted nor tortured for this contest of course, just hungry for self-expression.

Speaking from the heart.

Pasalitang Tula will take place in August, which is also Buwan ng Wika. The theme shall be based on library-related topics such as becoming alienated for being a bookworm, getting the chance to read a controversial book, or sharing a story of young love with the library as the backdrop. Tagalog will be the language of choice.

There is always something that listeners can relate to and appreciate in spoken poetry, so it's bound to be an interesting event.

Well, there you have it. While July has only started, before long we'll be scratching our heads, wondering where it headed off to as well. A lot of things seem to be happening in the blink of an eye these days, curiously enough. But anyway, expect to see these plans in action soon. In the meantime, always have an umbrella ready.

Keep warm and stay dry, Lib Lifers!

(Poster designs courtesy of Ms. Jean Marilette Abelardo)

FROM A TEACHER'S HEART: LIB TO LIVE AN ENJOYABLE SCHOOL LIFE

The following entry won the TeachBlog writing contest of the Elementary School Library held last November 7, 2018. Written by Mrs. Ma. Claire M. Guevara (Elementary School Department faculty and Grade 1 Level Coordinator), this piece titled "From a Teacher’s Heart: Lib to Live an Enjoyable School Life" is her story of starting an activity that would encourage her Grade 1 students to visit the library more. By doing so, she realizes her role in creating future readers, and her initiative would produce a ripple effect that surprises her.

 

Topic:  “The Role of Teachers in Promoting the Use of Library to Students”

Title: “From a Teacher’s Heart: Lib to Live an Enjoyable School Life”

Ma. Claire M. Guevara, Faculty (ESD)

Two of my 1^st grade pupils, at first, didn’t want to go to the library. When asked why? They reasoned out that they would prefer to play rather than sit and read inside the library. At first, I thought, it’s just a natural thing for 6 years old kiddos to choose playing around our quadrangle with their other classmates over reading inside the library.   But then, I have come to realize that these pupils must experience living an enjoyable school life through reading inside the library.  My heart leaped for joy when a light bulb flashed into my head on how I was going to encourage them to use one of the most important facilities of our school, the library.  I called their attention after our class, “I have an interesting story to tell you”. Their eyes glowed while waiting for my next sentence. “But that story is inside our library, the first pupil to find that story and bring it to me will get a prize”.  So, both of them went to the library and looked for the book entitled, “Happy Birthday, Moon”.  The male pupil found it first and hand it to me. I gave him his prize and told him that he will get another prize if he will read and tell me what the story is all about. Using my peripheral vision, I saw the female pupil a bit disappointed. So, I called her and gave her a chance to look for another book and told her that she will get a prize after reading it.  The game lasted for two weeks, and due to my pressing schedule, the game just stopped naturally. Until one day, the male pupil told me that he found a very interesting book in the library and asked three of his friends to do the game and read the book together. To my amazement, I hugged him and told him that he did a great job for encouraging others to read a book. After a week, the female pupil, asked me when we are going to continue the game. I told her that we will have a different game this time, I asked her to get a grade one pad paper and make a list of her favorite books in the library. She showed me her list and I encircled three out of seven, and told her to ask her friends to read those three books with her friends and they must think of a new title for the book and make a mini book version using a white paper.  After a week, and I already forgot the game, they handed me the mini book version. Got overwhelmed with their actions, hugged them and gave a small treat.

  

The situations have impressed an important message to me. If you desire within your heart to help your pupils achieve an enjoyable school life where they get to learn and play at the same time, God will definitely grant your wish. What if I would have just let that heart’s desire and light bulb passed without doing any actions?  What if I would just allow the choices of my pupils be not influence with what is better for them as learners? We as teachers have multiple roles to play and one of them is to develop a hobby that would improve their academic performance and social life at the same time.  We must motivate our pupils by telling them the relevance of reading, though they are digital natives and they feel more comfortable to do their school tasks around technology, and the power of knowledge that they could get from reading a book. Proud to say, our library has transformed from a traditional style to a more engaging digital style one. We must also expose them to different reading materials, references and author styles so they would not get bored in reading the same genre. They must learn how to read books with different genres would feed all their emotions.

           I would agree with Henry Ward Beecher when he said that library is one of the necessities of life. And as long as I am a teacher, I will continue to inspire pupils and colleagues to use our library, because a more enjoyable and interesting school life is a life spend not only in the four corners of a classroom but in the library as well…and I, thank you!

JRU @100: THE LIBRARY AND THE CENTENNIAL COUNTDOWN

Testing, 1, 2. Oh hey, welcome back, Lib Lifers!

Have you heard of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu? He once said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Well, for generations of Rizalians, the milestone of a hundred years began with a single day.

We weren't around for the beginning, but to have been there for the conclusion was just as special. And while it took on different names and relocated to different venues, Jose Rizal University evolved and carried on.

Image courtesy of facebook.com/JoseRizalUniversity

There's a line in our centennial hymn (by Mr. John Kenneth Dael) that exclaims "Isang daang taon na tayo, Rizaliano!" with pride. On February 19, 2019, we as one community sang the lyrics with even greater honor. History had been made.

The Road past a Hundred Years

As part of the buildup for the centennial, the Main Library hosted the exhibit "JRU: 100 and Beyond." This took place on February 11, 2019. If you've ever wondered what the future might be like for JRU, students from the Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School, College, and Graduate School had their own visions to share.

Going virtual: The Elementary School division exhibit.

The Junior High School division highlighted Rizalian achievements.

The exhibit showcased past and present accomplishments by Rizalians, as well as high-tech devices and 3D technology that could be adopted by the school in the coming years.

A Vision of the Future Building B: A 3D diorama by the Senior High School division.

 

The College division presents their Humanoid Arduino Robot Program.

The value of research as shown by the Graduate School division.

A Hundred Stories for the Coming Century

Yet another program held at the Main Library was the book launching for Biyaheng JRU: 100 Rizalian Stories presented on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2019.

Image courtesy of facebook.com/JoseRizalUniversity

Mrs. Norma M. Montalvo, JRU Vice President for Administrative Affairs, revealed the challenges brought about by acquiring a hundred stories for the book, but praised her team for finishing as scheduled. Mrs. Montalvo expressed emotions over particular stories; ones that made her laugh, and ones that made her cry.

With a hundred tales from employees, students, and alumni to choose from, readers would certainly find their own favorites to laugh and cry over. Be sure to purchase your own copy of Biyaheng JRU: 100 Rizalian Stories!

Hot off the press: a century's worth of stories.

And that does it for this post, Lib Lifers! By the time this article is uploaded, Jose Rizal University would have turned 100 already. A lot of preparations were made in anticipation of the big day, and the library always takes pride in hosting events that are part of the overall picture.

We'll be back soon for more library news. Keep tuning in, and congratulations on a hundred years, Rizalians!

FINDING LOVE, OPENING MINDS, AND CHALLENGING IMAGINATIONS

As TV hosts would say after a break: "And we're back!"

And so are we, Lib Lifers! Back for another school year, and back for more library-related news. It’s already July, would you believe? The weeks have been a blur, and each day brings us closer and closer to Jose Rizal University's 100th year! Yes, it's not every day that an institution can claim to be in existence for a century, but come 2019, JRU shall indeed be celebrating its centennial.

Finding Love

As part of the University's preparation for the big day, it shall be promoting 100 Rizalian Love Stories, an event that compiles romantic tales based on relationships that started within Jose Rizal University. 

Image courtesy of the Jose Rizal University Facebook page.

Three of our library staff had generously shared their love stories for this occasion – Mr. Jose P. Juayong from the Main Library, whom 14 years ago, listened to his heartbeat tell him that his partner, then Ms. Ma. Elennila Mandodoc (a Law student), was the right one;

The story of us: Mr. Jose P. Juayong recalls his JRU love story with his 'switie'.

Mrs. Gloria R. Enriquez from the Elementary Library, whose prayer of finding Mr. Right in the early eighties was answered in the person of Mr. Joselito Enriquez, her former bodyguard and future travel buddy;

Happy together: Mrs. and Mr. Enriquez.

and Mr. Jaycee G. Belen from the High School Library, who fell in love with former HRM student Ms. Kris Chela Enteria, and eventually learned that the feeling was mutual as he patiently waited for her to graduate.

If you have your own romantic tale that started in JRU, come and have it added at the 100 Rizalian Love Stories event this July 14, 2018, 8AM to 5PM, at the Main Library!

Opening Minds

In other news involving the Main Library, The Human Books invitational talk (which was inspired by De La Salle University Libraries' Human Library sessions) debuted last February 20, 2018 at the Learning Commons. Making its first ever appearance in the university, the program saw three of its guests open up about their personal experiences on controversial yet timely issues.

Straight talk: The Human Books

Drawing from the idea of how books "talk" to its reader, the speakers became the embodiment of this concept by being the voice behind the actual story; offering an interactive approach as they gave their young audience the chance to ask questions as they spoke.

Mr. Robin Jake  S. Correa disclosed his experience on being a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community;

Dealing with prejudice: Mr. Correa on LGBT.

Ms. Jean Marilette S. Abelardo (one of our Branch Librarians) revealed the challenges of teenage pregnancy;

and Ms. Glhaiza Shane P. Pacheco shared her thoughts on the burden of depression.

Ms. Pacheco reveals the reality of depression.

Curious minds tend to search for answers to questions that might be considered taboo or sensitive in nature; The Human Books provided the stage for healthy discussion on some of these inquiries in the most honest way possible.

This program was done in cooperation with the JRU Book Buddies organization.

Challenging Imaginations

Rounding off the news for this entry is the Book Trailer Making Contest – a special activity that puts students in the director's chair. This is an ongoing project that was introduced recently during the Senior High's library orientation.

Lights, camera, action! Promote a book as a director!

With the use of a favorite book as inspiration, the contest challenges the creativity of the students as they combine text, graphics, and live action to create a short video clip like that of movie previews seen in theaters. It may be done individually or as a group, and students are free to add elements like background music or voiceovers.

Given the allotted time of one minute or less, the entries would need to be concise yet appealing enough to gain interest; though sometimes all it takes is a few seconds and a wild imagination to create something fantastic.

The Book Trailer Making Contest runs until the end of August 2018.

And that's it for this entry, Lib Lifers! Make sure to check back soon for more news and updates surrounding the library. Have a healthy lib life in the meantime!