New mobile library set to roll out next month

DAVAO City librarian Nora Fe Alajar announced that the city's new mobile library is expected to roll out to the barangays next month.

Alajar said the new unit worth around P4.6 million will be out by middle of February.

With the new units, the city will now have two mobile libraries, with the first acquired 31 years ago.

Alajar she was thankful for the support of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in realizing her dreams for the city library.

The first mobile library that was donated by the Japanese Government had served thousands of Dabawenyos since 1981.

"Ginamaintain nako kay naa man funding. Daghan matingala kay 31 years. Dili na gud unta na siya ipaayo pero gi-fight gyud nako sa COA na maayo siya (We really maintained that because there is funding. Many people were surprised because it's already 31 years old. There was really no plan of rehabilitating it but I fought it out with Commission on Audit to improve it)," Alajar told Sun.Star Davao.

"So murag nakalusot kay service man gihapon. So the mayor gave me P500, 000 for the repair and then she bought me a new unit worth more than P4.6 million," she added.

Alajar will be retiring from service on January 24 after serving for four decades.

"Although I will not be there anymore but at least my dream to serve the community will expand," she said.

The City Council in August last year approved the P4.9 million for the purchase a brand new bus that will be used as a mobile library.

The city librarian said the allocation of the budget, a newer and state-of-the-art mobile library, is not an impossible dream.

Alajar earlier said they have come up with the design for the new mobile library, which will feature the traditional ones with hardcopy of books and the modern style with laptop and desktops computer to extend the latest learning trends to Dabawenyos living in far-flung areas.