Manila: Catholic foundation opens public libraries for the poor
Manila ( AsiaNews / CBCP ) - The Education Foundation ( EFI ), a Filipino Catholic group that campaigns for better education, has opened a series of public libraries called Bahay Karunungan - "House of Knowledge" in the local language - in degraded areas of Manila and throughout the country. As pointed out by Naomi A. David, EFI President, the goal of the initiative is to support and motivate learning, even and especially in the most disadvantaged populations, through reading. Like the more traditional libraries, the Bahay Karunungan have the most popular books and bestsellers, as well as books about religion, magazines, newspapers and various other manuscripts. There are also computers available to the public, so readers can consult digital material and use the internet.
"Setting up public libraries in poor communities - said the Catholic leader - is part of our commitment to literacy, to providing the urban poor population groups and communities across the country with books, while encouraging them to read". The element that differentiates the Catholic "Houses of knowledge" with respect to traditional libraries is the emphasis on "formation" that is at the base of the foundation, administered by lay people with great care.
EFI promotes the project with the support of partners who share the ideals and
commitment that animates the Catholic group: educating people, especially the
poorest. They
contribute to the preparation of the facilities, the purchase of reading
material and equipment.
Funds
and materials are also supplied by individual benefactors or small groups,
"who care about learning", said Naomi A. David, but the guidelines
for the management and the basic philosophy are the prerogative of the
foundation. "This is
not the usual library that we grew up in. It serves as a reading and learning
center for the community", she
adds. And every material - magazine, book, newspaper - is carefully assessed
before appearing on the she
Books, magazines, and
other reading materials are reviewed first before admission into the library.
Unlike conventional
libraries, Bahay Karunungan does not
follow the standard office hours of 8am to 5am. It opens from 11am until early
evening to accommodate students after school and other people after work. The
Bahay Karunungan are also available
to poor students, a place where they can do their homework in peace and take
advantage of the equipment and materials available.
Other
activities offered by the EFI libraries are movies and TV series that promote Christian
values and virtues, as well as debates and discussions on key issues that
affect people's lives. The
response has been very positive, concludes the president, confirming that not
only the rich, but also among the most vulnerable and poorest of society the
hunger for literacy and knowledge is strong.
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