BOOKS enough to fill a corner of the city library were turned over by the Australian government to the city government of Davao in time for the celebration of the Philippines-Australia Friendship Week.

Deputy Ambassador Mat Kimberley together with city administrator Zuleika Lopez led the ribbon cutting Tuesday, May 22, for the Australian Corner that features books about Australia.

"It is a mix of textbooks and storybooks because Australia and the Philippines both have English language. There is some history and geography the stories that the children can use like fiction that children can get excited about reading," Kimberley said.

He added that several books were already delivered and more will come as they plan to contribute to the mobile library as well.

Kimberley said that with these books he wants the people in Davao city to understand the similarities of Australia and the Philippines.

"I think what is really important is that they understand that we have the same history, culture, religion, same diverse society," he said.

He said the idea is to reach out to communities that can't go to the City Library for the books.

City librarian Pedrita Badar said they will bring the books to the far-flung barangays through the mobile library. Waan Elementary School was chosen as a pioneer area for book distribution.

Badar said that the new corner will add to the previous corners such as Chinese and Iranian corners.

"These books will be really of help in our library a lot since they are giving us updated books. There would be more corners coming. We will soon have a new four storey building, to be built at the Old 911 office. This is part of the City Library Modernization Project," she said.

She said that as to the mobile library is now serving 25 school barangays, and they are targeting more areas since they have additional disaster mobile bus that will also make rounds to provide people reading materials concerning disasters.