Libers participate in learning exchange and benchmarking tour at MIBF 2024
LIB.COM members, librarians, and library staff participated in the Learning Exchange: Benchmarking Tour for MIBF 2024 at SMX Convention Center, the National Library of the Philippines, and the National Museum of National History, Sept. 11.
The participants scouted library materials for possible acquisition of the university library collections and gained in-depth insights on what additional services can be integrated within the library.
Also, at the SMX Convention Center, librarians were given exclusive access to the exhibits at MIBF 2024, where they scouted new books, journals, multimedia, and other library resources for possible acquisition.
The fair featured local and international publishers, providing a vast array of materials across multiple disciplines—ranging from academic textbooks and research materials to fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature.
The International Manila Book Fair (IMBF) 2024 was a celebration of literary diversity, cultural exchange, and the boundless love for reading, and Lib.com Organization played a key role in making this year’s event even more memorable.
The organization, known for its advocacy of free and accessible literature, community empowerment, and promoting digital literacy, embarked on a landmark trip to the prestigious event held at the SMX Convention Center in Manila from September 11 to 15, 2024.
The next stop on the benchmarking tour was the National Library of the Philippines (NLP). They were introduced to some of the NLP’s latest projects, digitization efforts, and modernization initiatives.
The library’s efforts to preserve rare and historical documents while making them accessible to a wider audience through digital means resonated deeply with the Lib.com delegation, which shares a mission of promoting accessible and inclusive literature.
The tour provided an opportunity for Lib.com members to learn about the NLP’s extensive cataloging systems, database management, and digital archive preservation strategies. The in-depth discussions with NLP librarians sparked ideas for integrating similar services in their libraries.
The participants took note of how the National Library maximizes technology to bridge access to knowledge and bring rare materials to the digital age—a move that Lib.com has also been advocating.
To conclude the benchmarking tour, the group visited the National Museum of Natural History, where they examined the intersection of education, museum curation, and library services.
The museum’s modern design, engaging exhibits, and educational programs provided a unique perspective on how libraries can create interactive learning environments.
As the 2024 IMBF concluded, Lib.com, from the second-year to fourth-year levels, gained profound insights by visiting the National Library of the Philippines, reflecting on its vast collections and services that can be integrated into the university libraries.
They also experienced meeting publishers of books and meeting suppliers of books to gain networking linkages.
