COMMUNITY LIBRARY
A challenge to initiate a project that would benefit the community became a focus of the SUAF under the leadership of Susan Monte de Ramos-Soldwisch. The SUAF Bylaws directs the members to not only serve our Alma Mater but also the community we now call home.
The consensus of the membership was to choose a project that was modest in scope with community wide benefits.
The SUAF proposed the concept of consolidating all Mira Mesa Library books about the Philippines and shelving them in one place for ease of access. The Library Manager, saw the inherent value of the idea, appointed a library staff member to implement the co-location concept. Thus Library books about the Philippines and other books containing major references about the Philippines were exempted from normal shelving procedures, to create what was called the Philippine Book Corner.
The satisfaction derived from successfully making a contribution to the community was tempered by the glaring scarcity of books in the Philippine Book Corner.
To remedy the situation, The SUAF initiated the adopt-a-book campaign. San Diego Sillimanites, Friend of Silliman, as well as friend of friends, were asked check books stores and review their personal book collections to select items that will enhance the Library holdings. Donated books had to be about the Philippines or books written by Filipino or Filipino-American authors.
Donors were encouraged to select books that they believed would provide a window into the character of the Filipino people and their way of life. The response was gratifying in that over 300 books were added to the library inventory on Philippine history, music, dictionaries, heroes, geography, travel, myths and legends as well as books for children.
At the presentation program, dignitaries from city and county governments were present to recognize the initiative of the SUAF. The successful event was used as an example of how a small group of well intentioned citizens can make a significant impact on the well being of a community.
Achieving praise and honor did not lead to the culmination of the project.
Sillimanites and Friends became more aware of the emerging trends in the community to research their cultural heritage. To this end, it was decided that the Philippine Book Corner be renamed the Philippine Heritage Collection and that the SUAF shall continue to enrich the collection to better meet the needs of library patrons.
A second donation of books was presented to the Mira Mesa library under the leadership of Nathaniel Tan. A third donation followed under the leadership of Fely Tan-Narvaez.
As time passed, the issue of displaying books about the Philippines was transformed form a challenge in arraigning books in the shelves that did not call attention to the scarcity of inventory to the challenge of finding space on the shelves to enhance convenient access. A pleasant dilemma when viewed in retrospect.
In 2006, under the leadership of Fely Tan-Narvaez, the SUAF invited the Fil-Am Cultural Group of San Diego to co-sponsor the Philippine Heritage Collection, The SUAF decided that the project was too valuable and too important to be dependent on a single organization.
Both organization shared a common interest in making material available to those who wished to visit their roots, pass on cultural values to the sons and daughters, and educate the members of the community who have developed an interest about the Philippines .
Mary Olivar-Garrido, a founding member of the SUAF, played a key role in the co-sponsorship of the Philippine Heritage Collection in as much as she was the President of the Fil Am Cultural Group.
As a result of the partnership, the donations were expanded to include Philippine Multimedia material. The Heritage Collection expanded and includes, Filipino movies in DVD and VHR format, Filipino music tape and CD format, Karaoke with Filipino songs as well as Folk Dancing music and instructional books.
Statistical records measures the wide interest and usefulness of the material in the collection. Anecdotal references indicate that the Mira Mesa Library has the best selection of Filipino books and movies in San Diego . Significant evidence of wear and tear are observed in books of interest to college students as well as elementary and high school students.
To quote the guest speaker at the latest book presentation program, "what has been created here is a gold mine, a treasure chest made available to the Filipino-American community of San Diego."
We, Sillimanites and Friend of San Diego, derive a strong sense of satisfaction that our effort to be of service to our community has netted such positive results.
TESTIMONIAL
By Teresita Flores
Youth Services Librarian
Mira Mesa Branch Library
How fast time flies! It seems like only yesterday in the Mira Mesa Library when a group of energetic people introduced themselves to me as Silliman University Alumni Association of San Diego,(SUAASD). Mary Garrido, the spokesperson and with her, to name a few, John Olivar, Gerry dela Paz, Carol dela Paz, Fely Narvaez and Nate Tan had some queries about the library's Tagalog collection. At that time of their visit only few books were in circulation.
After a series of meeting with the branch manager and myself, a very noteworthy project was soon to be launched. It was surprising to note that this group that I've just met had already a plan to make the site as their pilot project.
In 1996, the SUAASD started soliciting donations and providing books and multimedia for the Filipiniana section of the library. A big celebration with special guests in attendance was held for the Book Presentation. Traditional Filipino dances were performed by the famous "Grandmas & Grandpas" of the group and refreshments were served. Throughout the years more presentations followed and to this time the project is still ongoing.
Due in parts to the efforts of this dedicated group, the Mira Mesa Library Filipiniana section has grown from a few Tagalog books and travel guides to a large collection covering Philippine History, Music, Literature by Filipino authors, Geography, Tourism, Cookbooks, and Children's Books. These materials are popular checkouts for students, teachers, parents and the whole community as well.
Now San Diego Silliman University Alumni & Friends, (SDSUAF), the officers and members agreed to become a partner in this challenge to provide materials and resources to preserve the cultural heritage of Filipino-American generations.