Simultaneous celebrations of the 89^th National Book Week Celebration and the 33^rd Library and Information Services Month were led by the University Library from Nov. 20 to 25, 2023.

The back-to-back celebrations lined up activities such as the Best Theses/Dissertations Exhibit, Storytelling Contest, On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest, Spoken Word Poetry Contest, 101^st UP System Libraries Founding Anniversary and Recognition Rites, and a community outreach activity. 

To kick start the weeklong celebration, Dr. Mary Ann M. Ingua, university librarian, and Irene L. Delos Santos, committee chair, led the launching of the Best Theses/Dissertations Exhibit for AY 2022-2023 at the lobby of the Bienvenido M. Gonzales Hall.

Three winners were selected for the Storytelling contest. The winners were chosen among six contestants based on their pronunciation, fluency, performance, and overall audience impact.

John James S. Girao, BS Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, with his story “Ang Mayabang na Usa at Ang Matalinong Suso” garnered first place; BS Development Communication students Diana Rose Luspo with “Sandaang Damit” and  Gianne Nicole Ruiz with “Where Did All the Fireflies Go?” won the second and third place, respectively.

Storytelling first place winner Girao later presented his winning story “Ang Mayabang na Usa at Ang Matalinong Suso” to the preschool children of Barangay Putho/Tuntungin at the Library’s culminating community outreach activity.

The celebration also featured an on-the-spot poster-making contest on Nov. 22 that revolved around the theme of the 33^rd LIS Month Celebration, “LETS Libraries: Learning, Empowering, and Transforming Society through Libraries.” Jade B. Macasinag of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology emerged as the winner and bested seven other UPLB students.

Meanwhile, eight competing participants demonstrated the power of words in the spoken word poetry contest. Benedict Megriño of the College of Arts and Sciences bagged first place with his winning piece entitled “Mayroon Akong Kwento.” Paulo T. Abiera from the College of Human Ecology came in at second place with “Ang Pangarap ni Isko,” while  Joachim Joseph B. Ramirez from the UP Rural High School bagged third place with “Library History.”

The winners from the different activities received their certificates and prizes in a culminating program on Nov 23. 

As part of the 101^st  UP System Libraries Founding Anniversary, the Library also hosted an elegant evening ceremony to recognize the dedicated service of librarians and library staff. The event had the theme “Centennial Resilience: Navigating Excellence and Public Service in UP System Libraries” and was held at Charles Fuller Baker Hall on Nov. 24. The recognition event is part of the UP Library Centennial Celebration held on March 9, 2022.

The University Library recognized 15 awardees who served UPLB for at least 20 years. They were presented with an Oblation statue as a token of recognition. Two awardees also received a plague of appreciation for 10 to 19 years of service. 

Emelyn R. Espiritu, university researcher, delivered a short response on behalf of the awardees.

The event was graced by Rolando T. Bello, vice chancellor for administration, and Dr. Agham C. Cuevas, vice chancellor for academic affairs. Also attending were deans and directors of the unit libraries.The celebrations ended on Nov. 25 with a community outreach activity held in collaboration with the Samahan ng mga Librarian sa Probinsiya ng Laguna (SaLibProla), Inc.. (Virginia P. Alcantara)