THE revival of the 24/7 Cebu City Public Library (CCPL) is not just a relaunching, but a commitment fulfilled to Cebu youth.
What began as a bold message in 2018 to former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña — a student’s plea to open a 24/7 public library because coffee shops were too costly to study in — has once again come to life.
Now back in office as Cebu City vice mayor, Osmeña, together with Mayor Nestor Archival, has revived the country’s first 24/7 public library.
According to Archival, the move is part of a renewed commitment to education, inclusivity, and public service.
A promise fulfilled
During the relaunching ceremony on Monday, June 30, 2025, Archival emphasized the City’s commitment to youth empowerment through accessible learning spaces.
“So, this library, we offer this to the young people, for the students so that they can develop whatever they can in order to make Cebu number one again,” Archival said.
“We want to make this library grow. At the same time, make the students and the youth grow,” he added.
Eight city councilors also attended the event: Nice Archival, Michelle Abella, Harold Kendrick Go, Paul Labra, Jose Abellanosa, Alvin Arcilla, Harry Eran, and Francis Esparis.
History of initiative
The Cebu City Public Library first opened 24/7 in 2018 after then-mayor Osmeña received a Facebook message from a student.
“I got a text, ‘Mayor I cannot study at home, we’re too noisy, I do not have any budget to go to coffee shop, can you please open the library so I can study,’” Osmeña recalled.
He responded with, “Give me a week.”
With that, CCPL became the first public library in the Philippines to operate around the clock.
“And it turns out we are the first library in the history of the Philippines [to open 24/7],” he said.
Since then, the initiative has helped many students succeed academically.
“Naa say nagpasalamat naku sa messenger kay tungod sa library sila nahimong topnotcher,” Osmeña shared.
“I hope that we will strengthen our population to better education,” he added.
Osmeña also took the opportunity to thank the person who initiated a message to him.
Plans for expansion
Osmeña revealed plans to convert the library’s second floor — currently used as a museum — into a study center to accommodate more users.
“I was talking to Nestor earlier, why don’t we open up upstairs? No one’s using it,” he said.
He also plans to convert underutilized barangay chapels into study centers across the city.
“This one [CCPL] is not big enough for Cebu City,” Osmeña added.
Meanwhile, Archival announced that CCPL will soon be powered by solar energy within six months.
He also pledged to improve internet speed and install more air conditioning units.
“Our internet here is very slow but right now, the computers are very fast,” he said.
Security and staffing
CCPL had reduced its operating hours in 2019 due to manpower constraints.
With its return to 24/7 service, new systems are being implemented.
“In terms of shifting, we already have it arranged,” said CCPL officer-in-charge Iris Wenceslao, who has requested the hiring of 15 more personnel.
Five CCTV cameras have been installed, and Mayor Archival said he plans to request two police officers to be stationed at night.
“Secured kaayo atong mga kabataan,” he assured.
Inclusive for PWDs
Part of the relaunch also focused on inclusivity for persons with disabilities (PWDs), especially the visually impaired.
“Gi-invite naku ang tanan, especially sa mga visually impaired, the library is open to all of you. The Cebu City Public Library is devoted to make the society inclusive,” said Leoniver Gaquing, head of the library’s Braille section.
“We might lose our sight but we never lost our vision,” he added.
Former Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who joined the press conference, recommended the use of assistive technologies such as audiobooks.
“If we have impaired persons that enter the library, they can avail [themselves of] whatever the best service that we can give them,” said Wenceslao.
At present, CCPL’s Braille section has a device that decodes Braille and reads it aloud for visually impaired users.
Gaquing hopes the section will receive more visits now that operations have resumed. (CDF)