‘Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 1183

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is crucial to a city or municipality’s prosperity to maintain and
improve the literacy of the people. We owe it to ourselves and to the
future generations to serve others by keeping learning and literacy alive.
The future of our country depends on a literate population. Attaining that
goal involves giving our young people a good education, an education rich
in literature, science, mathematics, history, fine arts, crafts, sports,
music, etc., an education with no shortage of teachers and a full supply of
the world’s best books. This goal involves not only continuing and full
support for our schools and universities but also for public libraries. We
must not neglect any of the institutions for the sake of another.

This bill proposes as a national goal to establish at least one (1)
public library in every province, city and municipality. This project may be
a cooperative undertaking among the local stakeholders, i.e. LGUs,
DepEd, PTAs, and civic groups. Local governments, in particular should
be proactive in identifying ways in which public libraries can complement
local development plans.

This bill makes it mandatory for every province, city and
municipality to provide in a gradual manner according to their respective
classifications the establishment of a public library.

Communities with public libraries send a powerful message to
children, parents and the entire community that reading and learning are
important and valued.

Studies show that increasing a child’s reading time by 37 minutes a
day outside his/her school will increase the child’s reading ability
tremendously. A public library offering a wide variety of books and
reference materials will help children develop a love for reading.

The ability to foster confidence in a student or individual to research
or study any topic he or she wants to learn is a unique gift. A child or


individual who understands and is comfortable with information
technology is a child or individual who will grow with the ability to learn
throughout his or her lifetime. 19% century British Prime Minister
Benjamin Disraeli states: “As a general rule, the most successful man in
life is the man who has the best information".

It is well documented that the ability to read empowers an
individual to learn and develop increased job skills.

A Simmons College (Boston, Massachusetts) study released in
October 2000 found a strong link between school libraries and student
achievement. The study showed that students typically score highest in
schools where there is a higher per pupil book count.

Massachusetts Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll agreed
with the results of a study that found a link between the amount of time
both poor and well to do students spend in libraries and how well they
read.

Mayor Daley of Chicago uses public libraries as the anchors for
neighborhood redevelopment. Mayor Daley refers to the neighborhood
library as the “heartbeat of the community”.

Arts and Culture Minister Edwin Poots of Northern Ireland states:
“Libraries are vital to raising literacy levels in communities. This improves
people’s employability and obviously helps to sustain a healthy economy".

Libraries provide students, entrepreneurs, businessmen and
organizations with access to trusted source of information and knowledge
to gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Public libraries deserve excellent support because they are libraries.
Libraries advance literacy and preserve intellectual culture. Libraries
address the life of the mind.

Considering the merits of this bill, approval hereof is earnestly
requested.

Wn
LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE


‘Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC LIBRARY IN EVERY PROVINCE,
CITY AND MUNICIPALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as “The Public Library
Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes the need to
establish a Public Library in every Province, City and Municipality in the
Philippines. Public libraries exist around the world and are often considered
an essential part of having an educated and literate population;

The State in establishing public libraries will be providing its citizens
of all ages and stages with books, information and intellectual resources
that they need to thrive in each community and in this country. Libraries
are essential institutions in a democratic society because they play a non-
partisan role in providing the information that allows citizens to make
informed decisions;

Libraries are essential to the educational process because they

support curricula, preserve intellectual culture, teach and advance


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information literacy, foster critical thinking skills, and promote community
cohesion;

Libraries are essential partners in creating educated communities
because they provide opportunities for self-education, life-long learning and
self-improvement. Libraries have a critical role in helping a city and nation
to become a knowledge and innovation driven society;

Libraries are essential places of opportunity because they level the
playing field making the world of information available to anyone seeking it.
Books are expensive these days and public libraries have become even
more important to ensure that reading does not become a hobby available
only for the rich and those that can afford. Public libraries makes all kinds
of resources available to everyone - from the richest to the poorest, from
the best educated to the illiterate;

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act:

A Public Library shall be defined as:

A public library is a library which is accessible by the

public and is generally funded from public sources .Private

donors or organizations may donate materials or cash for the

public library. Public libraries are distinct from research

libraries, school libraries or other special libraries in that their

mandate is generally to serve a public’s information needs
rather than to serve a particular school or institution or

research population.


Public libraries focus on a wide array of reading materials which are
of interest to the general public. Internet access is also offered as well as
a wide array of magazines, periodicals, softwares, DVD’s (audio and
video) as well as digital books.

Public libraries may also provide other services such as community
meeting rooms and seminar rooms offering reading programs for children,
continuing adult education, after-school programs and other educational
activities.

Sec. 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national
newspapers with general circulation

Approved.