My Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance

VUB Campus Etterbeek

I've been wanting to share this but along the way, I did not have the time to write. Uhm, why is that? I also wonder. Anyways, I really have to start writing now and keep this blog updated just like my very good chum, the Demigod Librarian Darrel Marco :)

Well, at the start of this year, I applied for a scholarship in Belgium for librarians. The training will last for three months and its about Information Management. I tried applying because there is no harm in trying. Who knows, I might get lucky. And lucky indeed, because last April I received the notification that I was selected. Yipee! The first thing I did was to run to the Demigod Darrel, jumped for joy and hugged him. Well, he knew about it as he also helped me in the preparation of documents.

And now, I am here in Brussels attending the training at the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel with the other two Filipinos and other classmates from various countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The notification at the beginning was really exciting but the experience of actually being in Brussels is way more exhilirating.Europe is a dream destination for most of us and by going there, all free is really such a blessing! I can't thank God enough for this wonderful opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime chance! I am also thankful to all the people who helped me with the recommendation letters (Ms Natalie Dela Torre and Ms Dinah Franco) with special thanks to Mr Darrel Marco :)

I never knew that there are grants for librarians before till I tried it as suggested by other colleagues. And never did I dream of being selected as a participants. Wel, for all those who want to try this scholarship you may check this website:VLIR-UOS
And for the complete information on my scholarship,
you may check it here:STIMULATE 10

I will blog more about the program in the next posts. I hope some readers will be inspired to try scholarships in Europe because there are a lot of opportunites out there. We only have to search for it and have the courage to send application. In the end, we'll never really know we might get lucky. As I continue to participate in the training, I promise to share all the knowledge learned here once I get back home.

Mabuhay ang mga Filipino Librarians!

Books I read when I was a teen

This is the list of books I submitted to Ms Zarah Gagatiga, who was so nice to invite me as guest blogger (my second actually) for the Teen Read Week celebration. Thanks for another exposure :))

I am a late bloomer reader. But I will just share books that I enjoyed most during the first two years in college and a little during high school. When I discovered the richness of the Main Library, I started borrowing books that are not so related with the academics but gave joyful and great experiences for me as a reader. So here goes my list:

Catching Up

It's been a long time ago since my first blog. So many things happened and time flies so fast. Anyway, I hope to write as often as I could and hope also that my reader (if ever there is one) will find this sort of useful.

Well, though it's a bit late to welcome this school year 2010-2011, I believe there are still a lot of things to write about.

First, I am now assigned in Upper Grades Library (Grades 4-7). I missed the kids from the Lower Grades (Prep-Grade 3), but it is always a joy to be with children. Consolation is that I am still working with kids but abit older than the previous ones.

Second, I am continuing my Master's Degree, so it also eats a lot of time and energy. What with all the requirements and course works that I need to do. But my studying right now gives me a whole new perspective specially on Children's Literature which help a lot in my work and to me personally.

Lastly, I will really do my hardest, no matter how busy I become to write about books, authors and illustrators, awards,some book reviews and book talks; update in librarianship, library, librarians, travel, library activities, events and of course on reading and literacy.

For now, this will be all. Till my next blog!

21st Century Librarians

Who are these 21st-century librarians? How many among your friends or family are in this line of field? Unless of course you are one of them, you'll be acquainted to most of them. Librarianship is not a popular profession even today, but it is slowly rising to the surface. Unbeknownst to many, there are a lot of works available to a graduate and qualified librarian. Nowadays, librarians are getting younger and younger and rapidly changes the shape and profile of the profession and the professionals.

Librarians today are a partner of the community not only in literacy advocacy but also in educating young people to become a life-long learners. Librarians, specially those who are working in school, have a great opportunity in raising children of today to love books and reading. 21st century has a great leap in technology, and so it is the of job of modern librarians to infuse reading with technology. I think that's the most important functions of modern librarians of today: making sure that books are still being read despite the advent of technology and also to keep instilling the value of reading.

Every professions should embrace this technology-driven era and keep up with it. Instead of deviating away from it, we should use it to our advantage. And so, in conclusion to this brief introductory blog, to me, 21st century librarians = books + reading + technology. The traditional skills of the librarians are still there but there is an additional important skill: technology skill.