AN INCREASED number of visitors and reviewees using the Davao City Library were noted after the extension of library hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting June 1, an official said.
City Librarian head Pedrita Badar said the extended library hours is convenient for the reviewees.
“The library time of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. helps the reviewees because they prefer to stay in the library before and after their review classes,” she said.
Badar added that different reviewees go to the library because of the availability of reviewers. “[The courses are] usually engineering, medical technology, pharmacy… I’m not sure about their schedules but some just go here in advance because they use our reviewers,” Badar said.
Badar said the average number of visitors per day is around 200 people and their peak hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. She said the declaration of martial law did not have effect on the number of visitors.
“We started the ‘7 a.m. to 7 p.m.’ on June 1. The Martial Law didn’t have any effect [on the visitors]. They still come," she said.
Although the extension started last June, Badar said that the increase of visitors only picked up this month.
Badar also noted that the library has a shortage of space considering the increase of daily visitors.
“We don’t have enough space. The Children’s [section] and the Audio-Visual [area] are already being used. The Internet Section is also used already. The children don’t have space especially during their noon breaks,” she said, adding that those who visitors are asked to wait in the newspaper/periodical section while waiting for available space. (Christian Gerard Briones, UIC Intern/With KVC)