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CEBU CITY, Philippines- Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is singing a different tune about the impending closure of the Rizal Memorial Library on Osmeña Blvd.
He said its closure would only be ?temporary?. He said the library would resume operations in the same building once renovations are completed.
Rama said he talked with members of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (Chac), which he heads, and that it was agreed that the closure would only last for the duration of the renovation works of the second and third floors. The library occupies the first floor.
In the meantime, they will find a place to house the books.
No schedule was given as Rama said he still has to confirm the timetable and cost of the renovation.
Last December, when Cebu Daily News reported the threat to close the city?s only public library, Rama said the building renovation would start middle of this year and that the city would operate ?library hubs? in public schools instead.
The pending closure, a matter discussed internally for several months, has drawn objections from various quarters, including the National Library of the Philippines, Friends Of the Cebu City Library (FOL) and the Zonta Club.
The plan to adop ?library hubs? under the Department of Education would transfer books to a ?warehouse? facility located in two venues - the Don Carlos Gothong Memorial High School and Zapatera High School.
However the National Library, in raising its objection, said the hubs were not real libraries but only depositories or warehouses for old books.
Joy Young, the city?s education consultant, said he favored satellite libraries in several barangays similar to Singapore in order to bring them closer to the people.
He said a centralized library would not benefit people from mountain barangays.
The Friends of the Cebu City Library has volunteer members who promote book donations, reading sessions, book launches and advoates the importance of reading.
The Zonta Club meanwhile established a Children's Reading Corner in the library where free read-along sessions are held.
