THE BALIWAG MUNICIPAL LIBRARY

History and Mandate

 

The Baliwag Municipal Library was established through the recommendation of the Baliwag Historical Society to transform the Old Municipal Hall into a library after the transfer of the offices at the new Municipal Hall in Bagong Nayon in 1971. Mayor Florentino Vergel De Dios and the other members of the Municipal Council (Sangguniang Bayan) authored and approved a resolution (SB Resolution No. 69) that created the Municipal Library on September 2, 1971. Correspondingly, Republic Act No. 7743 (Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City Municipal Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers throughout the Philippines, Appropriating the Necessary Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes) was passed and approved on June 17, while its Implementing Rules and Guidelines was published on October 5, 1994. This Act provides the official the creation and administration of a Municipal Library and the overall duties and responsibilities of the National Library of the Philippines, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Local Government Unit in managing and sustaining the municipal library.

 

Mr. Ernesto Castro served as its administrator until 1974 upon the creation of the Municipal Library through the abovementioned Resolution. Ms. Eleonora Villaroman became the Librarian for seven years after Castro. On March 1, 1982, Ms. Resurreccion Gaspar was appointed as the Librarian until her retirement in 2017. Mr. Heherson Cruz then served as the Municipal Librarian for the interim before he was transferred to the Archives and Records Office of the Municipality. Ms. Jesusa Garcia Villanueva is the Acting Head of the Library at present while Ms. Doreen Lumabas serves as the Librarian.

 

The Library is currently housed at the Old Municipal Hall (Lumang Munisipyo) which was declared as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) by the National 2015. It shares its office with the Museo ng Baliwag at present. Previously, the Baliwag Municipal Library was known as Baliwag Library and Museum as the library functions as a museum as well for it is the repository of other cultural objects aside from books. These include photographs, memorabilia, antiques, and artworks. However, in 2017, the Library and Museum officially became separate and independent offices with the creation of the Museo ng Baliwag.

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Mission and Vision

 

The Library, in concurrence with the vision of the Municipality of Baliwag, is a public library that serves as a facility and resource center for learning and preserving history and culture through its collection, especially that of the province of Bulacan and the town of Baliwag. It also caters to the development and utilization of library information technologies for the research needs and linkages of individuals and institutions.

 

The Library as an educational institution aims to facilitate informal education and raise the rate and level of literacy of the Filipino people through reading and other services. It supports research primarily on the history and culture of the province of Bulacan and the town of Baliwag and secondarily in various fields. It also provides bibliographical access to the country’s information. Moreover, the library may also serve as a space for recreation and quality leisure time.

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Operations Details

 

The main facility of the Baliwag Municipal Library is closed during the Enhanced Community Quarantine. It opens during the Modified General Community Quarantine or depending on the guidelines set by the IATF.

 

Below is the schedule of the Library for its regular operation:

 

Office and Reading area: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Loan Desk, Tech4Ed/E-resource, Exhibition area: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mobile Library: The schedule is announced via Facebook