By Andrew Dogaong, Philippine Information Agency

Hon. Pascual A. Sacgaca, Bontoc Mayor is guest of honor to the launch of Xijen College's Automated Library System. (Photo: Jason Paleg)

BONTOC, Mountain Province- Xijen College of Mountain Province, Inc. launched its Automated School Library System on August 5, 2010.  Bontoc Mayor, Pascual A. Sacgaca graced the occasion and did the ceremonial honors of putting the system into action .  In attendance were school administrators, school librarians from the elementary and high schools around Bontoc and members of the media.

Xijen College of Mountain Province, Inc., the lone private institution of higher learning in Mountain Province is one of the schools around the country that adapted the software Infolib. As described in the application’s website, Infolib (http://infolib.alaehweb.com/) is a free integrated library systems designed to provide library and information management solutions for small libraries and non-profit entities with ten thousand or less records.  The system is equipped with modules such as book and periodicals cataloging, circulation (lending), reservation, user records, a reporting system and a web based and local search capability called OPAC.    Infolib was developed by Gerry O. Laroza, systems administrator of the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University.  The aim of the developer as stated in his website is “to help libraries to have fully-integrated system for library management and information access free of charge.”  Schools shopping for a commercial automated library system could be set back for several thousands of pesos.

Clarence Subilla, the school librarian described the ease of use in facilitating student borrowing and keeping track of the books in the library.  Subilla did a demonstration in the borrowing of books where a student submits his or her ID to be scanned by a bar code reader.  Then the student submits the book to be borrowed and the librarian scans the book’s bar code for recording.  The system then records the book borrowed and the name of the student-borrower.   The process of manually recording on the borrower’s card has been eliminated with the use of the system, Subilla said.

In his closing message, Xijen College CEO, Joel Fagsao described that it took some time for the staff, Computer Technician Instructor, Carlo Khensay and BSIT department head, Gomer Pangod to find a suitable bar code symbol-ogy  to be integrated in the student’s ID.  Fagsao added that he wanted to make the student ID card a little bit smart, thus the integration of the bar code symbol in the student’s ID.   Fagsao thanked Bontoc Municipal librarian Chamraine Chakas Casiwen for broaching the idea of using Infolib.  In addition, the Bontoc Municipal Library is also using Infolib.   Fagsao added that the hardware requirements do not necessarily have to be a top of the line computer.  A bar code reader (scanner) is also necessary to make data input faster.

Fagsao expressed that Xijen College will provide free training to schools around the province wishing to establish an automated library system.  The first batch of trainees for school librarians from Bontoc will commence on August 11, 2010.    Schools interested to send their librarians for training can contact Xijen College at 0920 487 3360.