Malditang Librarian

This has been the busiest summer yet. Along with my library job, I'm also taking two subjects for my Masters degree: Group Dynamics and Reference. There's only two of us enrolled and we're nearing summer's end. Its like we're just meeting teachers to talk about our lives, they don't feel like formal classes. This week, we will have some sort of leadership training seminar where we will both be the speakers for an audience of Psychology students. I'm still brainstorming and haven't yet begun making the presentation. This Thursday, I am going out of the country for the first time for a vacation! I will write about it when I get back and I'm just trying to contain the excitement. I need to pack my things and prepare. My brother always told me that traveling out of your familiar country is a great learning experience, it makes you realize that the world is still so big, there are so many places to go, and there are still so many things that can hap...

As this month ends, my contract at the CPU Henry Luce III Library also ends. Due to the moratorium of no hiring for regular employees (due to K-12, and college enrollments are expected to lessen), I could not apply as a librarian. This is my second official job after my first job as a one-man college librarian in Manila. The Henry Luce III Library is a special place for me. This is where I spent most of my college days, learned about hard work and responsibility, and where I met lifelong friends. The library is a witness to my successes: in graduating with honors, and in topping the board exam. I'm not running out of good books to find. I grabbed the chance to work here to 'give back' in a way. I also have plans to finish my Master's degree in Library Science so I can also teach. My work is in the Technical Services, where we process books before they are in the shelves. Payments, accounts, and bibliographies are all handled here. I'm in the Cataloging Sec...

Last May 16-19, 2017, the Henry Luce III Library of Central Philippine University (where I work) held a book sale, with books you can buy from 30 pesos to 1 peso. The books sold were old, obsolete books and some damaged books that can still be useful. Some donated and withdrawn books are no longer fit for the library collection, so the sale was held to free up more space for books that are useful for the university. Before the book sale, we prepared for weeks sorting out the books dumped in the stock room, choosing what to discard and what to keep, and pricing them according to their condition. We arranged the books for selling and for a week I wasn't a librarian but a ... cashier! During the book sale, my job wasn't just to collect payments and file receipts, but I also enjoyed talking to the buyers and helping them find what they are looking for. Most students, staff, and faculty were delighted to buy books for cheap, when these are so expensive in book stores. It was e...

When I say that I deactivated my Facebook account and that I'm only using Messenger, I'm always amused by the shocked expressions of others. As if I had a huge drama or made an enemy in Facebook that I deactivated. Actually, no one really notices that you're gone from Facebook until you tell them you're not in it. I just smile when people tell me to activate again, because I know I won't. As of now, I want to quit Facebook for good. Facebook makes activating again easy (you just have to log in again), so I must also discipline myself not to log in or visit the very-familiar homepage. I admit that I really don't understand why people don't understand that sometimes, avoiding social media is good for your mental health. I know myself. I know how easily I can be distracted, how much time I can waste, and how toxic it can be for me. What's the better thing, to be productive in your work and your personal dreams, or to be productive in Facebook? Facebo...

Note: these are reposts of articles written for Centralian Link [May 19, 2017] , the newsletter of Central Philippine University. My experiences in being part of the library booksale, I'll post later! One for the books By Cyrus A. Natividad The author at the book sale Tuesday is a favorite day - comes every week with a blessing! We were blessed on Tuesday, May 16 with a room full of books. It’s the opening of the Summer Book Warehouse Sale at the ground Floor, Henry Luce III Library. Lots of timeless, valuable books ( classical, technical and many other reference types, paperbacks, hardbound and pocket books) are up to 80% on Sale until May 19, 2017. The Book Sale organizers led by Library Director Dr. Emelda Estember however, put incredible tags on each book – from 1 peso to 30 pesos depending on quality of materials and content. With the average cost of Ten Pesos 10 each, I got precious philosophical and critical authors to read - including Norman Vincent Peal and John...

Instead of hours of waiting, we can now renew online through PRC Online . This July, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) will start. This means that there will be required units of professional learning (seminars, workshops, etc.) before we can renew our professional licenses. Many are already renewing their licenses while CPD is still not in effect. I renewed my license this month and after waiting in line for hours in the PRC office, we were cut off because they can only serve a number of clients for that day. The PRC officials advised us to use the online renewal system. I created an account in PRC Online , registered my information, uploaded a scanned picture, and paid through BDO. The next day, I only had to line up for my service number and immediately got my new ID. You can renew your PRC ID one year before it expires. Mine will expire on March 2018 but I decided to just renew now in case I don't come up with the required number of CPD units within 3 years. Now...

The date of your upcoming professional board exam is nearing. Whether it is next year or the next months or weeks, most of us have trouble focusing on our studies. Outside pressure from your family and peers often makes us nervous rather than help us focus. There is temptation from your barkada and social media to waste your time. In your studying, you should have less time for distractions and we know it, but they can't be avoided. Here are some tips to minimize them. 1. Deactivate Facebook. As a board exam topnotcher, you can trust me when I say that this works. I knew how much time I could waste while browsing social media sites. It is tempting to post about our struggles, pictures of us studying, or what else. Some people I knew posted about their reviews, but ended up failing the board! Its better if we don't post anything at all, and just post about our success if we pass the board! I strongly recommend deactivating Facebook, and focus on studying and rather than ...